Help a stupid homeowner place big trees (Complete with photoshop work from 1995)

B

BumbleBeeJBG

Location
Baldwin
Hi Tree peoples. Long story short, I'm a lover of huge majestic trees that are well maintained. I moved to a block lined with 60'+ pin oaks with huge variety of trees in the yards surrounding me. Within the first year of moving in, neighbors cut down literally all the trees surrounding my yard and half the curb trees.

So I've been busy. I am in love with Dawn Redwoods and had planned to have 2 on the property, one 'Ogon' or 'Gold Rush' on the property line with a neighbor and one big boy in the middle of the property. The people I ordered the tree from messed up and gave me the wrong size and is letting me keep the smaller tree (which is 8'-9' tall, not a slouch of a seedling).

Yellow = Trees being planted within a month
Blue = Trees already planted
Zone 7B, south shore of Long Island

Here's my original plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdnQ5GmwxYcx6PVLQBiPbkP4y_QgvnYt/view?usp=sharing

Here's a plan B utilizing the free DR, they're 16' off center from each other: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1evwADvjYA_mAWSaklKtU4xnZl6PQEgFr/view?usp=sharing

And here's a plan C moving a currently planted maple ("Regal Petticoat") to the front and using a Dawn Redwood in the back instead: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J6bvTB8JEX1UPExPPlgn5MYT3k_p7oyq/view?usp=sharing

Am I making any mistakes? Have any suggestions? Thanks for helping an ignorant fool!
 
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Ask yourself, or google, what is the mature size of these trees.

Consider converting lawn to mulched beds around trees, increasing in size as trees grow, or underplant with some companions (shrubs, flowers, etc). Make it easy to maintain the lawn in conjunction with the beds (no inside corners, too tight of curves. Run your mower in the grass to outline your idea. I have some screwy parts of my mowed field that by the shape of them, I have to basically double mow. The front yard is mow and a half.
 
I'm in NE Ohio.
My 3 year old Dawn Redwood is growing at 5.5 ft/yr. (now ~ 24 ft)
Birch in my area don't live long enough to become "giants". (15 miles S of Lake Erie)
 
Thanks for the tips guys. I'm very aware of the size of these trees and have selected them specifically because of their individual height and girth. I've also only owned a home for 3 years so my tree experience is nill. So basically even though I think I have a good plan, I know I'm pretty damn ignorant too which is why I'm asking the likes of this board. (I also seriously considered being an arborist earlier in life so this was a natural place for me to seek out)

The only size I'm not sure about is the maple, and it seems no one knows really since it's a pretty new cultivar being spread around ("Regal Petticoat"). I'm betting on 20-40' at maturity with similar spread which appears to be a loose consensus.

I think I'm going to go with "Option B"- my nursery loves the idea. (and I take their word for it since they lost money on the second Redwood and stood to gain if I chose an oak or something in that second spot)

For a Long Island property my pH is pretty balanced (6-7 across entire property)- should I sulfur the trees? I have a large proportion of acid loving trees and have been told the Redwoods like it down even to 4.5.

As for the birch, I'm getting 4'+ growth out of it per year and I'm told it should continue that growth for a few more years then slow down considerably. I'm also told it survives pretty damn well in terms of length given that it's native here, contrasted against white birch which I'm told only lives like 30 years.
 
Get smaller tree if they have any spread or wiggle to their form. I had a client request consulting on five 9" diameter southern live oaks he had planted by a big box company who failed to let him know that his trees would be straight and skinny enough to fit on a flatbed trailer. No bueno for southern live oak, but could work for a pine.
 
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