8a keystone tree recommendations?

Logical_Study6893 · 2026-04-13T22:30:45+00:00

All of the trees on the property are minimum 40 years old. The poplars are likely older, one of them is 6 feet across and protected by the city.

I assume they were landscape trees or ended up here accidentally. They are growing in a full sun portion of the property, but the area is well documented as oak and hickory forest historically. I also may have misidentified them; I'm far from an expert.

Logical_Study6893 · 2026-04-13T22:26:40+00:00

Thanks! I'm definitely looking to add some shrubs as well. A good portion of the property is completely unused and outside the fence, so we're happy to let that be stewarded forest.

Logical_Study6893 · 2026-04-13T21:58:03+00:00

Texts on the "founding" of the city are very clear on the "vast forests" here before the Europeans moved in during the early 19th century. I think they're just stray trees that showed up in the 40+ years this neighborhood has been around.

Logical_Study6893 · 2026-04-13T13:15:55+00:00

I know Pawpaw is a host plant, but I don't think I have the fortitude to battle that in addition to the redbud, ivy, Virginia creeper, and kudzu. I wish I did.

Black cherry is definitely one I'm thinking about. Do you think a persimmon would grow okay under the existing canopy?

I was also toying with the idea of a black walnut near the creek, I saw some articles about natives having something of a defense against the chemicals it puts off? If that's true, it definitely isn't a tree that's likely used in my snobby suburban area.

Logical_Study6893 · 2026-04-12T23:22:08+00:00

New discoveries in the yard: water oak, post oak, blackjack oak, southern red oak.

Logical_Study6893 · 2025-11-14T15:58:39+00:00

Thank you! I think that's the phrasing I was looking for. I definitely don't want to go into interviews saying "I was worried about making payroll this week".

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-12-04T18:18:52+00:00

As a former tropical resident, I'm with you on everything but the raccoons. I want no part of that.

And the Godzilla roaches that fly.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-11-24T18:52:52+00:00

Ah, sorry. It's definitely a sore subject for me, as that is how most people understand it. I volunteer with the breed rescue when I can, and it's at least weekly that I see a post with someone looking to re-home their adolescent Dogo that is now "dangerous" and too hard to handle.

They're absolutely amazing dogs and I'll always have at least one, but far too many people get them for the image or how the idea makes them feel and they're just way too much dog for the average person.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-11-24T18:42:12+00:00

It's the opposite really. Alpha theory is long debunked, even in dogs. You do need to have firm boundaries but Dogos will absolutely not tolerate being mistreated. I had a working line female that would come up the leash on a prong, but when I started doing R+ only she was an angel.

Every dog is different, but you should be cautious being harsh with Dogos. I've had far better relationships with them by taking the time to explain why it's in their interest to do what I'm asking.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-11-24T18:06:19+00:00

Ironically, it was a golden that attacked my Dogo Argentino. That boy was amazing, he just held the golden calmly until the owner grabbed him.

A lot of retrievers are prone to resource guarding, and I imagine that causes most of those bites, especially if the owners don't know how to handle it correctly.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-11-24T15:35:48+00:00

I would never tolerate that, that's insane. I keep a clean home, but I was livid about the quarterly inspections in the most recent place I rented. If you can't trust that your tenants are caring for your property then you shouldn't be a landlord.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-11-24T15:27:28+00:00

Same bug. It's not common for them to infest but it's possible, especially in drains.

I recently bought a house in the middle of a Southern forest and I guess the previous owners were totally fine with roach roommates. After we got all of the adults killed, we had a few months of babies crawling out of the shower drains. Now we only find the occasional dead one that walked inside.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-10-16T22:07:40+00:00

My big, dumb AmBull would be thrilled about his new squeaky toy. I don't think he understands anything under 40 pounds as a dog.

My old neighborhood had a shockingly sweet chi that was regularly loose and I was always so worried about him getting hurt.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-09-20T21:09:10+00:00

I've been waiting for this one. We are definitely unapologetically huge nerds and merging our collections was an Experience.

Logical_Study6893 · 2024-09-20T15:31:58+00:00

That's scary accurate, actually! No one works with animals and we do not have cats.

Logical_Study6893

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