New trees and shade ON A BUDGET

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Buying new trees is very stressful for me because I don't like to pay big money for anything without thinking about it for a long while. 

The best shade tree in our backyard, that the hostas do well under, is half dead and that dead part is threatening to fall and destroy a good part of the hosta beds AND the house.  Although something needs to be done, I keep telling myself that it can wait until fall when the plants are dormant and I have planted a couple of replacement trees. Unfortunately, I've been telling myself that for a few years.

It is now time. This fall it will get taken down before it hits the house (so I'm praying that no big wind storms come through) and new trees will be planted.

Yesterday I bought two new trees!  I actually BOUGHT them.  A local store had them marked down by 40% and actually still had two things I really wanted.  Only one will be a shade tree but I'll keep looking for deals! I have my eye on a free dogwood...it's a long shot!

I now have a redbud tree but not just any redbud tree.  This is a  Carolina Sweetheart Cervis that has beautiful rich maroon heart shaped leaves that eventually become green with white margins. It will grow to 20 or 30 feet tall. I'm excited!





The other tree is a tiny 3 foot tall Lemon Lime Laceleaf Japanese maple that, if all goes well, can grow 4 to 8 INCHES per year.  It can get a spread of 8 feet so it can shelter my mini hostas.  That's the plan at least and I plan to live for a while yet!





They are both still in pots while I decide where to plant them. The stress is real! 



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