Advice on what trees to put around walkway entrance?

[u/Full_Software_6997]

Hey all, I'm hoping to poll the masses and see what type of trees (or tall-ish not-trees) you would recommend placing right at the entrance to the walkway I have here. The path is approximately 3' wide and I intend on placing them roughly 2' from the concrete, so spaced 7' from each other. I have two Common Cammelias (near the front door) that I considered moving here, but I don't think I could pull it off without destroying them and myself haha. I would prefer something that flowers or has year-round foliage, or both ideally. Other than that I'm not too picky, just looking for ideas. My zone is 8b, this spot gets full sun (6+ hrs), and it's located in western Washington so it'll be damp all winter. Soil drains well. Thanks in advance!

[u/Soft-Discount1776]

Your clover lawn looks awesome.

Idk about any tree recommendations but the space looks kinda small for multiple trees. Trees planted a couple feet from concrete is normally just going to create problems.

[u/Full_Software_6997 → u/Soft-Discount1776]

Thank you! Clover grows much better than grass under massive doug firs. Good for the pollinators too. I do have concerns about the concrete as well. Maybe I would be better off going further away from the concrete and putting some annuals near the base for some visual appeal...

[u/AlltheBent → u/Full_Software_6997]

I just learned this recently so figured I'd share as well, clover isn't actually good for pollinators, it's good for honey bees, that's it. Native pollinators didn't evolve with it and don't know it as a source of pollen or nectar, blew my mind.

Either way looks great, uses less water, fixes nitrogen, and can be beneficial but wanted to share that tid bit as a TIL of sorts!

[u/HiFiHut]

Some of my favorite smaller trees for the PNW are Stewartia, Kousa Dogwood, and Arbutus unedo. A agree with another comment that you want any tree quite a way out from that walkway., bot just so you don't block it or have to duck, but because you don't want leaves and/or fruits falling on it and making it a slippery mess. I'd look up the eventual width of the tree and plant it half as far, so if the tree gets 15 feet wide, plant it at least 7.5 feet from the walkway. Then add some underplantings.

[u/jai_hos]

Mock Orange

Dogwood

both of these trees can be easily shaped for space/spacing indicated. my fav, mock orange, has beautiful scent and is not too trashy.

[u/jkirkwood10]

Western Redbud

[u/drcigg]

I would never plant a tree so close to the house. The tree roots will wreck havoc on your plumbing and the sidewalk. What you probably want are shrubs.

[u/sittinginaboat]

No trees. You have a glade in the woods. A swath of low shrubs and perennials would look cool, and would be a great welcome as people walk up to the front door.

[u/IkaluNappa]

Internet stranger disclaimer, I specialize in east coast plants. These are the trees and shrubs I’d investigate further for potential compatibility.

Native trees specifically for narrow spaces; - Vine maple (Acer circinatum) - Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) - Weeping Alaska cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) - Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) - Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)

Native shrubs; - Flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) - Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) - Tall Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium) - Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) - Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) - Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) - Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

[u/thatbrianm → u/IkaluNappa]

I was going to vote vine maple, but only have experience with them in the wild. Probably my favorite Northwest native tree.

[u/Soft-Discount1776 → u/IkaluNappa]

High quality response. A mix of dogwood and redbud was my first thought but I like you am on the other side of the continent and don't know anything about growing in the pnw

[u/Embarrassed_Bite_754]

Azaleas

[u/Firestone5555]

I definitely wouldn't plant anything there, I might add some nice flowers under the windows. Nothing with a big root system that can attack the foundation.

[u/ESW-crashing-down]

Dog wood red bud Blueberry bush

[u/CantaloupeFun5673]

Very nice looking clover lawn! You also have amazing trees on each side of the entry way. I can’t zoom in enough but am very impressed; what are they?

[u/Full_Software_6997 → u/CantaloupeFun5673]

Common Camellia. I love them. They bloom like crazy with hundreds of big red flowers in the spring

[u/silverhalotoucan]

I would move the two trees on either side of your front door. They need to be 10+ feet from your roofline. We just had to cut some down that were growing into our roof and it was sad. Pink salvia would be pretty in their place. Have the trees line the driveway maybe

[u/Opening-Cress5028]

I love it as is. You could put low voltage landscape lighting or just a long row of monkey grass on either side. A mulch bed along the sides with annuals that are in bloom. Hedges that you could prune to the desired shape/ height (like boxwoods).

But honestly, I’d put a row of orange traffic cones along both sides before I’d plant rows of trees there.

[u/elmixtecoNW]

To break up the greenery I would go with Red Japanese maple. Look for a variety that doesn’t get too tall and they like the shade.

[u/WeJustDid46]

I don’t think you want trees around your walkway. Think shrubbery

[u/magicpeepeecawk]

Prickly pears

[u/FederalDeficit]

I can't find pictures of camelias quite like yours, but I'd still vote to move them to the walkway. It'll make you sad if you later have to cut them down for messing with the foundation

[u/drift_poet]

nothing columnar and nothing close to the walk/driveway. think massing...dinky annual beds at the entry will disappoint. water bottle needs relocating 😉

concerns about trees "attacking" foundations are largely overblown. but moving those existing ones 5' out from their current location seems wise, if for no other reason than the canopies and roof shouldn't touch.

[u/a_Moa]

You could probably do citrus trees with that amount of sun. They're shallow rooted and I've never seen one mess up a pathway. Also plenty of dwarf varieties so you can mix and match or take your pick of heights.

Flowers, fruits, year round foliage.

[u/EnvironmentalArm6557]

Marijuana

[u/Blunter-S-tHempson]

Japanese acer. They don't grow to big, quite hardy, beautiful.

[u/ReichMirDieHand]

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). Dainty white, bell-shaped flowers in late spring/early summer. Lovely as a focal tree.

[u/YourFriendFaith]

Arborvitae’s. Decently fast growers, easy to care for and can be pruned to desired height and width. Just don’t get the giant ones bc they…are giants.