Lombardy Poplar Tree - Added May 2020
A couple of weeks ago, I posted photos of one of our Earth Day 2020 trees (a Chanticleer Flowering Pear) that we planted in the side yard as a screening tree for our Screened Porch. That was our 36th tree planted in the yard, this post is about the 37th tree: a Lombardy Poplar.
This was an inexpensive tree that I bought at an online nursery that is about six feet tall from the soil, but very thin - caliper-wise. I didn't measure it when I planted it, but I'll do a new-tree roundup for calipers later this Summer. It was a bareroot tree based on the root structure.
We planted this one all the way in the back - where I've been putting the wood chips - and it is located just to the north of where I planted the Corkscrew Willow three years ago. That tree died, but you can still see the trunk of it on the left side of the photo at the top. When I dug up the hole for this tree, I seem to have left some of the soil/loam on top of the chips that I'll have to re-mulch with more chips this Summer to clean up the area.
The Lombardy Poplar is billed as a 'fast growing privacy wind break' by the seller. Why did I buy it? Well...the biggest reason is the habit: it is columnar. Are they legacy trees? No. They don't have that long of a life (think: 20 years), but not everything we are planting is meant to be a legacy planting. I'm hoping that this tree will provide some quick vertical interest and a little bit of screening in the far back. I considered putting this tree on the side yard where we planted the flowering pear, but the Lombardy Poplar seems to potentially have some aggressive surface roots that I didn't really want to have to deal with close to the house.
From the description:
Love that "Mediterranean" idea. And, I'm considering this checking a 'partial box' on my Priority Area #3 where I called out the placement of a new columnar tree. See the sketch here.
As for where we planted it, I put it ALL the way in the back of the yard - in a spot that screening from our rear neighbors can't hurt.
The tree is pretty skinny now, so I staked it with a 6' bamboo stake and some soft-cushion wire. I'm hoping that it will take off and thicken up this season.
For the history of trees on our property, here's the full list details. This is tree #37 planted. 31 of those trees still alive.
2017 (9 planted. 3 Died. 6 of the original annual total alive now):
1. Flowering Pear in backyard on north side.
2. Flowering Pear in front yard by garage. (LOST and replaced)
3. Japanese flowering cherry
4 and 5: 2 Lindens that I espalier'd and placed by the south fence line near our kitchen windows.
6. A Dawn Redwood from Earth Day 2017 (LOST and replaced)
7. Nat's Saucer Magnolia in our front yard
8. A Corkscrew Willow all the way in the back (LOST)
9. A Crimson King Norway Maple near the trampoline
2018 (17 planted. 2 Died and weren't replaced yet. 2 were replacement from 2017. 15 of the original annual total alive now):
10. Another flowering pear from Earth Day 2018
11. Red Maple Sun Valley tree from Earth Day 2018.
12. Weeping Cedar tree - our first evergreen.
13. The weeping flowering cherry tree that the Babe planted for Earth Day 2018.
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. These Frans Fontaine Hornbeams.
22. A replacement Chanticleer Pear tree (3" caliper) out front by our garage
23. Our second evergreen - a short Fraser Fir Christmas Tree out by the trampoline. (LOST)
24. This Canadian Hemlock that is the first of nine that our landscape plan calls for in the backyard. (LOST)
25. Our replanted/replacement Dawn Redwood. Same spot as the first.
26. This teeny-tiny Bald Cypress that I planted in the front yard, in between our driveway and our neighbor to the north.
This was an inexpensive tree that I bought at an online nursery that is about six feet tall from the soil, but very thin - caliper-wise. I didn't measure it when I planted it, but I'll do a new-tree roundup for calipers later this Summer. It was a bareroot tree based on the root structure.
We planted this one all the way in the back - where I've been putting the wood chips - and it is located just to the north of where I planted the Corkscrew Willow three years ago. That tree died, but you can still see the trunk of it on the left side of the photo at the top. When I dug up the hole for this tree, I seem to have left some of the soil/loam on top of the chips that I'll have to re-mulch with more chips this Summer to clean up the area.
The Lombardy Poplar is billed as a 'fast growing privacy wind break' by the seller. Why did I buy it? Well...the biggest reason is the habit: it is columnar. Are they legacy trees? No. They don't have that long of a life (think: 20 years), but not everything we are planting is meant to be a legacy planting. I'm hoping that this tree will provide some quick vertical interest and a little bit of screening in the far back. I considered putting this tree on the side yard where we planted the flowering pear, but the Lombardy Poplar seems to potentially have some aggressive surface roots that I didn't really want to have to deal with close to the house.
From the description:
Nothing stops the wind faster. Lombardy Poplars commonly grow 6 feet per year, with some reaching growth rates of 9 to 12 feet. You often see Lombardys planted around farm fields to keep topsoil from blowing away - and they'll work just as effectively for your home.
Plus, their Mediterranean look adds value to your property. These plush Poplars grow in an elegant, columnar fashion. Use them to line your driveway, the road or the edges of your property. Line your Northern borders for a full, voluminous look that's enviable.I've posted about various columnar trees, but didn't cover the Lombardy Poplar. It reminds me of the American Sweetgum Slender Silhouette.
Love that "Mediterranean" idea. And, I'm considering this checking a 'partial box' on my Priority Area #3 where I called out the placement of a new columnar tree. See the sketch here.
As for where we planted it, I put it ALL the way in the back of the yard - in a spot that screening from our rear neighbors can't hurt.
The tree is pretty skinny now, so I staked it with a 6' bamboo stake and some soft-cushion wire. I'm hoping that it will take off and thicken up this season.
For the history of trees on our property, here's the full list details. This is tree #37 planted. 31 of those trees still alive.
2017 (9 planted. 3 Died. 6 of the original annual total alive now):
1. Flowering Pear in backyard on north side.
2. Flowering Pear in front yard by garage. (LOST and replaced)
3. Japanese flowering cherry
4 and 5: 2 Lindens that I espalier'd and placed by the south fence line near our kitchen windows.
6. A Dawn Redwood from Earth Day 2017 (LOST and replaced)
7. Nat's Saucer Magnolia in our front yard
8. A Corkscrew Willow all the way in the back (LOST)
9. A Crimson King Norway Maple near the trampoline
2018 (17 planted. 2 Died and weren't replaced yet. 2 were replacement from 2017. 15 of the original annual total alive now):
10. Another flowering pear from Earth Day 2018
11. Red Maple Sun Valley tree from Earth Day 2018.
12. Weeping Cedar tree - our first evergreen.
13. The weeping flowering cherry tree that the Babe planted for Earth Day 2018.
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. These Frans Fontaine Hornbeams.
22. A replacement Chanticleer Pear tree (3" caliper) out front by our garage
23. Our second evergreen - a short Fraser Fir Christmas Tree out by the trampoline. (LOST)
24. This Canadian Hemlock that is the first of nine that our landscape plan calls for in the backyard. (LOST)
25. Our replanted/replacement Dawn Redwood. Same spot as the first.
26. This teeny-tiny Bald Cypress that I planted in the front yard, in between our driveway and our neighbor to the north.
2019 (9 planted. 1 confirmed dead. 2 troubled. 8 of the annual still alive.):
27, 28, 29. A set of three small Canadian Hemlock Trees in our far backyard.
30, 31, 32. This second set of three small Canadian Hemlocks along the north fence line.
33. My new Weeping White Spruce that will only grow about 4' wide placed near the fence line alongside the espalier'd Lindens.
34. A NEW Dwarf Alberta Spruce planted near the south fence line. Our first "dwarf" tree.
35. This new Hakuro Nishiki Willow (Dappled Willow) tree planted close to the flowering cherry on the southside.
33. My new Weeping White Spruce that will only grow about 4' wide placed near the fence line alongside the espalier'd Lindens.
34. A NEW Dwarf Alberta Spruce planted near the south fence line. Our first "dwarf" tree.
35. This new Hakuro Nishiki Willow (Dappled Willow) tree planted close to the flowering cherry on the southside.
2020 (So Far) (2 planted and alive):
37. A very thin Lombardy Poplar tree - columnar form - in the way back wood chip area.
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