Trees in Central TX

paulaortnersr · Jan 20, 2003

Our property has a 200' road frontage. We are considering lining the front for privacy with hybrid poplar trees about 10' apart. Does anyone have any experience with these? Do they grow well in Central TX? Will the deer eat them before they get a chance to grow? We are slowly eliminating all the Cedar (Juniper) trees, but with them goes our privacy screen. I would also be interested in anyone selling a chipper at a very reasonable price.

stmiller2 · Jan 22, 2003

I can't answer your questions, but I am sure that the folks at your local Cooperative Extension Service can.

beenthere · Jan 22, 2003

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From the question, I am wondering if you are familiar with hybrid poplar. The poplar, if they will grow in TX, will quickly grow tall, lose their bottom limbs, and they will lose their leaves for about 5 months out of the year. So it seems to me they will not make for good privacy trees (IMO).

Something that doesn't grow so fast, and that stays green all year seems to me would make for better privacy. But I don't mean to imply you shouldn't go for it, if the open look is what you want.

rdbrumfield · Jan 22, 2003

Poplars like water, looks kind of dry there.

DocHeb · Jan 22, 2003

If you're current trees provide a privacy screen, haven't been eaten by the deer, are of good size, stay green all the time, and survive with your rainfall, why do you want to eliminate the cedars? Just asking - I'm unfamiliar with Texas landscaping and cedars.

froggy · Jan 22, 2003

An acre of cedar will waste approximately 50,000 gallons of water per year.

centex · Jan 25, 2003

Cedars spread like wildfire and use up all the water so other trees around them can't thrive. If you don't keep them under control they will take over your property in a short time. I spend 1 to 2 hours a day chopping cedars. Besides taking over your land they stink, they have a pollen that most people are alergic to, and I just plain hate them. They do thrive in Central Texas though. I don't think poplars or any kind of maple will do well in this area. I tried to grow a red maple but it died. I replaced it with a red oak and it is now 30' tall. Best to talk to the local experts since what grows well in one area may not be able to survive a few miles away (cedar is the exception - it seems like it will grow anywhere someone is not constantly clearing it.)

Buck · Jan 25, 2003

paulaortnersr,

When I bought my home, I bought 100 hybrid poplars. Currently, I have 0. The deer ate them.

When I put in my purchase order, I had the same concerns you do; I wanted more privacy.

As I looked more and more into the species, I became less and less enchanted. They really don't look that nice, albeit they do grow quickly.

I am now pursuing the same objectives with spruce, pine and maples. The pine and spruce are great because they do not lose their leaves, however, I will have to wait longer for the height.

The Hybrid Poplar grow fine in your area. If you do choose this species, make sure they are watered well during the drought times.

Buck

Alan L. · Jan 25, 2003

I'm not that crazy about cedars either, but they are native, and do make a great screen. I left about 10 on our property, as they stay green all year and smell good to me.

They are not competing with any other vegetation however, where they are.

Poplars grow fast, but they are ugly and won't live very long.

8NTX · Jan 26, 2003

If it were me, I probably would try live oak; they are an evergreen that tend to thrive in many areas of Texas. My biggest problem comes from ice storms that tend to split off big limbs, even in half. But I have also successfully mended a 10 footer that was split down the trunk to about a foot from the ground.

I recently planted several 4' eldarica pines at my property in E. Texas. Found out yesterday that the deer had eaten about 80% of the needles off of one of them. Any tried and true deer repellent or remedies out there? Can I expect that tree to come back and grow new needles if I can get the deer to leave it alone? I did buy an $11.00 bottle of deer repellent at TSC yesterday and wrapped them with chicken wire and will leave that on until spring.