Backyard Woes

[Heidi & Milton]

Our backyard is both a blessing and a cursed.  We are blessed to have a 100+ year old pecan tree lovingly looking down on our house. 

More than one person has mentioned that it has a "Boo Radley" hole like the one in To Kill a Mockingbird

This pecan tree is massive, and it gracefully drapes not only over our yard but both of our neighbors' yards as well.

Humongous limbs

Our tree looks beautiful, and it is, but that darn tree tends to shed an awful, awful lot.  Also, the shade that it creates turns our backyard into a veritable mud pit berefit of grass.  Hence, the curse.

Always lots of clean-up.

All of the debris that our tree drops just gets picked right back up again by the Milt dog's fur and tail.

He looks very unconcerned by his Momma's dilemma.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many of these little tassels I have found littered throughout our house.  It is a never ending battle.  Our pecan tree drops leaves in the fall and tassels in the spring.  I now sweep the deck once per day...  Before we bought a house, I recall watching House Hunters, and one perspective buyer was adamant that she wanted absolutely no trees in her yard because she did not want to devote any time to raking; then I found this woman to be ridiculous and lazy.  Now, I am beginning to see her perspective.  Of course, I would rather have trees than no trees at all, but I wish the droppage would let us just a little bit...

To read more about Milton the Goldendoodle please visit www.goldilocksandherdoodle.com

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Can you have some limbs trimmed back to open up the top of the tree to allow some sun to reach your yard? I too use a small leaf blower to clear the pathways and patio, so fast and easy!

[Judi, David & Maddie Irishdoodle]

We have several maple trees that shed their keys in May. Like you, I would sweep our large deck daily until my hubby bought me a small light rechargeable leaf blower from Home Depot. It is amazing .... The job is finished in seconds and Maddie loves when I point it at her. She leaps and runs and comes back for more. Back to the leaf blower - it's great for cleaning grass clippings off sidewalks and dirt off driveways. It's my new favorite gardening tool (brand name is Worx).

[Bonnie and Kona]

We have shedding birch trees. We grew up with paper birch in the mid-west. We planted some other kind of birches in CA and they are the dirtiest trees around. sigh. They do shade the house in the summer and keep it cool. Have to love that. Plus the leaves and bark are beautiful. It's all a trade-off. Good luck with sweeping twice a day. That could get old fast! Milton looks cute clean or messy.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

The tree is actually very beautiful, but I totally understand the pain of all the mess to clean up.  We (actually our backyard neighbors) have three huge trees up against the other side of our backyard fence and the mess they bring is horrible and never ending.  It is a rental and they have never been pruned, cut, shaped, etc. in thirty years.  At times we cut what is hanging over our fence, but now they are so tall we can't even do that!  So big messes spring and fall too:(  Libby looks forward to playing in some of the mess. Grrrr

[Adrienne]

As a person living in a "new" development without a trace of mature trees (well, we do have mature trees at the very far end of our lot), I am totally jealous of you and your beautiful tree.  I wish that it were in my yard :).  However, I also understand your dilemma.  

[Pat and Traveler]

Beautiful Boo tree, but I sympathize with the tree dilemma.  My back yard especially is troubled by trees.  There's a black walnut next door that has branches over the driveway, and drops nuts and all sorts of debris on the car.  The giant fir shades a big area and sheds needles like crazy, and the giant maple encourages a yard of moss.  There.  Complaining done.  They are beautiful, just like the Boo tree.  :)

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Catkins and nuts......