Appropriate tree for yard - Ask Extension
Hello!
I was wondering if you could suggest some evergreen trees that would do well in Monroe, Oregon. With hard clay soil and increasingly hot and l...
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Appropriate tree for yard #869065
Asked May 18, 2024, 8:37 PM EDT
Hello!
I was wondering if you could suggest some evergreen trees that would do well in Monroe, Oregon. With hard clay soil and increasingly hot and long summer months, I am looking for trees that would do well in this environment, quick to moderate growth of 15 or more feet and offer privacy year-round and NOT a Doug fir. While I can amend soil, if necessary, are there any that do well in clay soil? I have been considering laural trees but we do have wildlife such as deer, turkeys, etc, that forage on our property. Can you confirm my idea or do you have alternative suggestions? Thank you so much for any help you can provide!!!
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
First I would suggest you look around Monroe for trees that you like, and that are thriving. That might give you some good ideas.
If your clay soil is well-drained (no standing water in winter) you shouldn't have to worry too much about it. Put a thick mulch of arborist's wood chips over it, and it will not only improve the soil over time, but keep it from drying and cracking in the summer.
There are several non-Doug fir conifers that are fine with clay soil, including Picea abies (Norway spruce), Picea glauca var. densata (Black Hills spruce), Pinus nigra (Austrian pine), Pinus strobus (White pine)
Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine)
Evergreen broadleaf trees that you could try include Magnolia grandiflora and it's many cultivars, Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Golden chinkapin) a lovely but seldom-grown native tree, https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/chrysolepis-chrysophylla.
Nothofagus dombeyi (evergreen beech), which gets quite large eventually, https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/nothofagus-dombeyi
Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese cherry laurel) (I wouldn't recommend English laurel, Prunus laurocerasus).
Or if you are willing to have a slower-growing tree, one of the evergreen oaks. Here's a whole list.
Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak)
Quercus berberidifolia (California Scrub Oak )
Quercus chrysolepis (Canyon Live Oak)
Quercus emoryi (Emory Oak)
Quercus engelmannii (Engelmann Oak)
Quercus glauca (Japanese Blue Oak)
Quercus hypoleucoides (Silverleaf Oak)
Quercus ilex (Holly Oak )
Quercus myrsinifolia (Chinese Evergreen Oak )
Quercus suber (Cork Oak)
Quercus wislizeni (Interior Live Oak )
If your clay soil is well-drained (no standing water in winter) you shouldn't have to worry too much about it. Put a thick mulch of arborist's wood chips over it, and it will not only improve the soil over time, but keep it from drying and cracking in the summer.
There are several non-Doug fir conifers that are fine with clay soil, including Picea abies (Norway spruce), Picea glauca var. densata (Black Hills spruce), Pinus nigra (Austrian pine), Pinus strobus (White pine)
Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine)
Evergreen broadleaf trees that you could try include Magnolia grandiflora and it's many cultivars, Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Golden chinkapin) a lovely but seldom-grown native tree, https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/chrysolepis-chrysophylla.
Nothofagus dombeyi (evergreen beech), which gets quite large eventually, https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/nothofagus-dombeyi
Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese cherry laurel) (I wouldn't recommend English laurel, Prunus laurocerasus).
Or if you are willing to have a slower-growing tree, one of the evergreen oaks. Here's a whole list.
Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak)
Quercus berberidifolia (California Scrub Oak )
Quercus chrysolepis (Canyon Live Oak)
Quercus emoryi (Emory Oak)
Quercus engelmannii (Engelmann Oak)
Quercus glauca (Japanese Blue Oak)
Quercus hypoleucoides (Silverleaf Oak)
Quercus ilex (Holly Oak )
Quercus myrsinifolia (Chinese Evergreen Oak )
Quercus suber (Cork Oak)
Quercus wislizeni (Interior Live Oak )
