I recently completed an intensive gardening class and I'm currently revamping my yard. A master gardener has offered me a 3-foot tall tulip tree from her yard, and I'm excited to plant it! I figured out that I have a sunny spot on the north-NW side of my house, adjacent to my driveway and street, where I'd like to create a pollinator garden. I think this tulip tree would add some shade and beauty to the space.
I have a few questions and would love some guidance:
1. How far from the street and driveway should the tree be planted?
2. Is it okay if there are utility lines nearby? I've contacted the "Before you Dig" service to mark them out before I start planting.
3. Will the tulip tree create too much shade for my pollinator garden? Since it grows large and quickly, I'm hoping the north-side location will still allow sunlight to reach my garden plants.
I'm based in New Jersey, hardiness zone 7a. Thanks for the help!
3 Answers
Hey! Tulip trees are known for growing quite fast and can eventually create a lot of shade. Since you're putting it on the north-NW side of your house, its shadow shouldn't reach the sunniest parts of your garden for a while. However, in 5 to 10 years, it could limit sunlight for your sun-loving plants. If you want to keep the full sun in the long run, consider planting it a bit further out or maybe go for a smaller native tree. But if you’re okay with a bit of dappled shade over time, it can still be a gorgeous addition for your pollinator garden, especially for early bloomers!
Just a heads up if you're in an area where road salt is used, tulip trees really don’t handle salt well. That’s why you don’t see many of them as street trees around here in Michigan. Just keep that in mind when setting up your planting location!
Definitely check in with r/Tree for more specifics! They might have some great localized advice for planting trees in your state and area.
Will do, thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks for sharing your insight about the timeline! I hadn't thought about how it would change over the years.