Can native trees cover telephone wires in Santa Monica???

[Anonymous]

Any suggestions on planting native trees to cover 30-50 foot high wires in my backyard?? I was all prepared to plant bamboo, when I picked up a book on 'The California Landscape Garden.' Now I am finding out about a whole new approach working with native plants etc.. Are Oak trees appropriate for a backyard? Is any kind of bamboo ecologically correct in Santa Monica? My yard is 40 X 40 and I need some kind of trees to block out wires. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!</p>

[Anonymous]

Are you trying to block the view of the wires or actually cover up the wires? If you are going to actually hide the wires in the foliage, that is not something I would recommend. Utility companies will see to it that the wires do not remain hidden. If you are trying to block the view oaks will work , make sure they are native to your area and not just to California. Drop me a note with more details and I will se what I can do. Ben</p>

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ben for your response! There are 6 wires running across the back of my lota 50ft. span and are attached to a very unsightly telephone pole about 40 ft. high. The lowest wire is the ugliest, and is about 25ft. high. The wires and pole are set 40ft. away from my house, however, I look directly into them. Blocking the view would be enough for me, although I do see many neighbors actually covering the wires with morning glory vines, Ivy and Pepper Trees. Quite frankly, I do not understand how the city allows this, it seems like a safety hazard to me.? Some also plant Bamboo screens in front of the wires. I want to avoid this walled in effect. I am look ing for some sort of light and airy blockage in front of the wires. The view can be open from the ground to about the first 25 feet up, where the wires start. I like the concept of planting native trees to enhance the local wildlife and environment. So, if you have any brainstorms, I am eager to hear! You raise a good point about oaks, how do I find out which oaks are native to Santa Monica. Maybe coast oak? Also, what are your thoughts on Torrey Pines and/or Sequoias? Thank you!!!!</p>

[Anonymous]

Let me check on a few things and I will get back to you with more definitive answers. Cottonwoods are rapidly growing trees and produce lots of shade. I'll get back to you later with more. Ben</p>

[Anonymous]

Laura - check out the answer to santa monica natives from r.tata.</p>

[Anonymous]

Laura - Me again. After some initial research there are about seven oaks that grow in your area that would be ok for your needs. My favorites are Black Oak Quercus kelloggii and Blue oak Q. douglasii. The others are Q. agrifolia, Q.durata, Q.engelmanni, Q.garryana, Q.john-tuckeri, and Q.lobata. Also check with Santa Monica Mountains National Reserve. They should have a Botanist or Fire Ecologist that can help you. Jeanne Taylor used to work down there, but I do not know if she still does. Let me know what else you need. Ben</p>

[Anonymous]

Ben--thanks so much for your research! I will call the Santa Monica Nat'l Reserve after this holiday weekend and follow up on your lead. I will report back with my results. Why do you prefer the Black & Blue Oaks? Also--I visited the Theodore Payne native nursery. They had a california laurel tree that seemed like a possible alternative for blocking my telephone post. Any feedback on this tree versus oaks? Thanks Have a great weekend. I really appreciate your help!!</p>

[Anonymous]

An oak is a good choice, however extremely slow. A better choice that is much quicker is Lyonothamnus asplenifoilus floribundus-- or Catalina Ironwood. Best of luck--and please--no more bamboo!!! Casey</p>

[Anonymous]

Well, I like Black Oaks because they make better acorn. Blue for the color variation they are not green. Bays are nice, the seeds can be roasted and eaten like cornnuts. It will just take the bays longer to get to the height you want. Anything but a non-native will be a nice addition to your yard. Ben</p>

[Anonymous]

thanks Ben for your detailed info on oaks--my next question regarding oaks--is it possible to have any of the oak trees next to a lawn if I keep irrigation away from the trunk--or how many feet apart do you think I need between them. thanks</p>

[Anonymous]

Laura - We have one oak in our front yard. It was planted as part of the landscape design for the housing area. It used to be on a drip type irrigation system, but we removed it for the sake of the tree. Oaks do not like to be watered. It makes them suceptible to root rot and other fungal attacks. Our has survived a fungal and insect invasion in its early years and has grown about ten feet in the past five years. Oaks will do ok in a watered lawn setting but it is not optimal for them. If they can only be planted where water will be applied daily then the water should not extend much into their drip line. The drip line is the vertically projected edge of the canopy if the sun is shinging directly over the tree. Keep in mind that an oak 'can' reach thirty or more feet across the canopy at full maturity depending on the species. Black and Blue oaks are great for spreading canopies. So, in answer to your question about distance between them. I would probably say either on on the middle of the area you want to hide wires in or divide your area in thirds and plant one at each third marker or as necessary depending on your ard size. Talk atcha, Ben</p>

[Anonymous]

hi ben- the search continues, but I am nearing a final decision. with many thanks to you for your ongoing assistance in this project. I have another project now too, check out the 'upland' post. But getting back to my backyard--If I keep the irrigation away from the oak, can any colorful native plants grow underneath their canopies and/or native grasses? If oaks are better without anything growing underneath, I may move an oak to the more hardscaped area in front of my house. thanks for any more help. laura</p>

[Anonymous]

Laura -In Yosemite Valley, deer grassMuhlenbergia rigens does well in the compnay of oaks. It is a very nice grass. It is also fairly drought resistant but I do not know if it is native to your area. As for other plants, I am not really sure. Check the local library for books about Native peoples of your area. Those references may give you more ideas about what might go with your oaks and what you might like to see in your yard. Ben</p>

[Anonymous]

It is often recommended that very local natives be used whenever possible. When looking for trees for your Santa Monica yard, you might look at trees with parentage from the Santa Monica Mountains and the Los Angeles basin and hills. Oaks from further inland would probably not appreciate Santa Monica's coastal influence. This would limit the number of Oaks under consideration to Quercus agrifolia coast live oak, Quercus lobata valley oak, and perhaps Q. chrysolepis canyon live oak. Q. wislizenii is also local but shrub and tree forms and I am not sure you could verify from nursery stock, if available, what to expect in the mature tree. The three tree oaks would get quite large and would require the dedication of your entire yard to the requirements of native oaks oakleaf mulch and a few carefully chosen plants in the outer areas of the dripline, planted before the trees roots are growing there. It would also likely be influenced by neighbors' yards heavy watering uphill could result in problems. Since there should be little or no supplemental watering not only to the drip line but for several feet beyond the drip line, the area of control desirable is really at least 40' by 40'.

There are a few other trees that you might consider. The most attractive, white Alder Alnus rhombifolia and Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii are riparian and would need some summer watering. Their roots, however, might seek out water in underground pipes and cause problems. Often backyards don't have pipes and in that case it should not be a problem. They are fast growing and more upright and a wonderful variety of natives could be planted under them. Male cottonwoods are sometimes chosen for landscapes because they do not distribute the 'cottony' seeds that the females do. Sycamores Platanus racemosa, bay bay laurel, Oregon myrtle Umbellularia californica and the native holly leafed cherry Prunus ilicifolia are less demanding of water yet adaptable to lawn or typical landscaping situations, although the bay's leaf litter may discourage lawn growth and there would be bay nuts and/or cherry pits. These are trees that grow in riparian valleys but are also found considerably further from the actual stream, especially the bay and cherry. All of these trees get tall enough to cause problems if planted under the wires so plant them far enough in front of the wires to avoid the need for drastic pruning. Another tree that will grow in these situations but also on dry slopes is the toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia, a shrub or an attractive multi-trunked small tree.

One of the rarest plant communities in the world is the oak-walnut woodland. A few stands of this community remain in the hills of the greater metropolitan Los Angeles. It would be worth considering planting a locally native California walnut Juglans californica. It is a small multitrunked tree that can be kept to one or a few trunks by pruning new suckers as they appear mostly in spring. The California walnut would grow well with the toyon, in dry or moist areas.

Actually, Catalina ironwood Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius of the nursery trade does not occur on Santa Catalina Island, it occurs on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Clemente Islands. It might be more accurate to refer to this tree as fernleaf ironwood. There is an ironwood that occurs only on Santa Catalina but it is Lyonothamnus floribundus. The fernleaf ironwood is the most attractive of the two and is quite successful in coastal Southern California. Although it is not a 'local' native, it is not a genetic problem locally because there are no local ironwoods that it could pollinate.

I would suspect that bamboos are similar to the Giant Reed grass Arundo donax that displaces so much vegetation in our Southern California rivers. Since it is from another continent and it has not brought with it its native insects, it is relatively free of insects not being appealing to our local insects and therefore provides little food for our local birds. The native willow that it displaces has 100 times the insect population and it has horizontal branches where birds can rest and build nests. One of the pleasures of gardening with natives is bringing the natural to your home, attracting birds and butterflies. </p>

[Anonymous]

thanks so much for your detailed response!What about the Fremont Cottonwood? I've heard not to plant cottonwoods because they are not hardy and weak wooded trees? Also, how long would it take the umbellularia californica to reach 30ft do you think? I like this tree because it's an evergreen.Any other evergreen suggestions?

</p>

[Anonymous]

Fremont Cottonwoods can grow in all but the coldest high mountain and desertareas of California. In milder areas they may even be evergreen or only brieflydeciduous. The branches are thin but the leaves are light and thin and havelong, flexible petioles. This allows the wind to pass through without muchstress on the branches. Black Cottonwoods, however, do have a reputation ofhaving weak, brittle branches. As far as the Bay Tree goes, it probably grows ata rate of about one foot per year, depending on cultural conditions. Otherevergreen trees you might consider for Southern California: Toyon Heteromelesarbutifolia, Holly leaf Cherry Prunus ilicifolia, Mountain Mahogany Cercocarpusbetuloides, Fernleaf 'Catalina' Ironwood Lyonothamnus floribundusasplenifolius</p>

[Anonymous]

Laura: if you have not found any plants for underneath your oak yet, check out the 'canative' website for a listing of nearly every plant tree shrub, flower,grass etc. native to CA. The site provides a photo, and infor re sun and water needs, region of CA to which each plant is native, dimensions, etc. </p>

[Anonymous]

catalina ironwood is perfect for the pole. the fern leafed one. ours went from 4' to 12' in 2 years and is a thing of beauty. tree of life nursery in san juan capo carrys it.</p>