Ugh... my poor backyard.

MissLMS

Can anyone recommend landscaping advice? We need to plant some kind of plant along our back fence. Something that will grow tall and fast.

My first thought was bamboo, but I don't know if that is necessarily the look we are going for.

Our yard had a nice shade screen that gave us some privacy from the apartments behind our house. Well, Alabama Power came through today and cut down one of our small oak trees (which was no where near the power line) and they wanted me to sign a waiver to cut down a 100-year-old oak that is in our yard.) I didn't agree so they instead butchered it pretty badly, cutting down about half the tree that was closest to the power line. Ugh. It made a mess and makes me so mad. There is a difference between trimming and actually damaging a tree, you know?

I talked to the foreman about it and he explained that Alabama Power told them to cut back a whole lot so that they don't have to cut back every 4 years like they have been. I know they are only following directions, but it's so frustrating! My yard is a wreck!

So.. anyone have any plant recommendations?

The mess they left in my backyard!

sdkrlm

Call them back and file a formal complaint - they shouldn't leave any  mess.

 

As far as a plant, I was at our botanical gardens last weekend and they have a ton of oak-leaf hydrangea - and I thought it was very pretty - and I'm a huge fan of planting native species if available.

 

 

Or - The Giant Elephant Ear plants are cold weather tropicals that are fast growing and large -and pretty unique

(these are the black magic elephant ears)

 

star21gazer

I'm no help on plants because I have a black thumb.  I just wanted to say that you should file a formal complaint like Sarah said because they shouldn't leave that mess for you to clean up...they cut it down they should clean it up.  I would be frustrated to..especially to butcher such an old tree...I hope it can recover. 

ricejl

Now that I can post again, I hope you are still reading this post. I got my undergrad in Forestry but I studied more native trees than urban trees. The problem with fast growing trees is that they are weak and will break, for example, pear trees. Also bamboo is invasive so I would stay away from it. Have you thought about crepe myrtles? Most people down here trim them every year but we don't and they are quickly hiding the house behind us. The problem with some utility companies is that they don't practice what is called "directional pruning" which involves pruning the tree so that it grows away from the power line. Most companies will just "top" a tree and that causes smaller branches to come back in an excessive amount and the power company would have to come back again. It makes me so angry to see that. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this. Just keep in mind to plant something that won't grow so tall or they will cut it down too.