Xtremehorticulture

Small Front Yard Tree Not Messy

Q.
I want to plant a tree in my front yard where it gets southern exposure sun and
space is approximately 9 feet from house where it will be planted.  I want
something that does not get over approximately 20 ft. at maturity, does not
drop fruit, seed pods or anything messy, and is drought tolerant.  I was considering
a Western/Mexican redbud, Hawthorne, Raywood Ash.  What do you know of
these trees?  Do you have any better recommendations based on my needs?

A.
Here are a few notes on the trees you mentioned from Andrea Meckley:
Western
Redbud
– litter form leaves in the fall (plant is deciduous) and spring
flowers  Multi-trunked so not a good shade tree.  15′ wide x 13′ high
at maturity meets goals.
Hawthorn – I
assume you refer to “Majestic Beauty’ Hawthorn Patio tree-Evergreen with
little leaf drop and April flowers that are not much of problem.  Prefers
morning sun, not southern exposure.  Matures at 20’h x 8’w although I have
not seen much larger than about 10′ high in the Las Vegas area.
Raywood
Ash
– Leaf litter in late winter because tree is deciduous.  Matures at 30′
h x 20′ w.

Here
are a couple of trees to look at with your requirements.  
With the
information you gave, the Mulga Acacia (Acacia
aneura
) sounds like the one I would suggest.

Mulga
Acacia
– Evergreen with small spring flowers are not a big
litter problem.  Matures at 20’h x 15’w.  Can be a shade tree
with a ball head or lower branches kept on for more shade. 
Hardy.   Considered ‘bulletproof’  on the Southern Nevada Regional
Coalition Plant List. 
Smoke
Tree
– Leaf debris (deciduous) in late fall.  Matures at 15′ x 15′. Multi
stemmed, so leave natural for more shade or prune for tree form.
From
Andrea Meckley

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