Hello, I have a dilemma and looking for help. I live in Dallas Texas and am starting the landscaping on my yard after I put a concrete slab in. I have about 6 feet of dirt between the slab and my fence. That runs about 50 feet in length. I was going to put on each corner a mature crepe Myrtle. I still have a lot of space in between. Should I put y'all evergreens on corner and crepe myrtles in the middle to get better privacy from neighbors and space? Should I just spread out four crepe myrtles across 50 feet? Any advice appreciated.

Goals: some privacy while maintaining trees good next to concrete ( not looking to build a wall, just break up the skyline and give some beauty)

Before you plant anything, you need to be aware of the weather patterns in your area? Do you get a fair amount of rain, or will you be needing to haul out the garden hose everyday to make sure things get water? Also, what kind of wind do you get? Once the tree is above the fence, how often will it be subjected to damaging high winds?

I don't know that a 6-foot area will be enough space for the crepe myrtle. See https://www.gardeningknowhow.c... for more information on their root system. Of note is that they recommend NOT planting anything too near the base of the crepe myrtle as it will compete with the shallow root system for water and nutrients. This would be a great place to utilize containers. Just make sure there is an air gap between the ground and the bottom of the pot or the crepe myrtle will send roots into the pot for water, etc. (Ask me how I know about that!)

Something you could consider would be planters mounted on the fence to create hanging gardens. Not only would you be able to put in flowers, but you could also put in edibles such as strawberries, etc.

Keep us posted and good luck!

The crepe myrtle we planted are next to our driveway and have boxwoods under them. They are only halfway private in summer since they lose leaves in winter. We do not trim them so they are full grown, maybe 20 years+ at this point.

I've never had problems planting under crepe myrtles.

I would choose to plant upright growing succulents and drought tolerant plants along the sides there.

Which direction(s) does the water drain off of the concrete slab?

porkpal said:Which direction(s) does the water drain off of the concrete slab?

From the angle I took the picture to the right off the rounded corner.

North Dallas, East, South? So many types of Crepe myrtles! This a 30 yr old, dark pink, TREE FORM Crepe Myrtle just northeast of Dallas about 1 hrs drive. The tree form ones are hard to find.
Roots are going to be your problem - they will travel, Crack your cement, cause multiple issues, but maybe you can find an evergreen type small tree? Yes, at least the first year you are going to be watering that tree to keep them alive. Are you close to the Duncanville area? Limestone caprock close to the surface causes multiple other problems there, esp with trees like red maple and red oak...

RickM said:


Something you could consider would be planters mounted on the fence to create hanging gardens. Not only would you be able to put in flowers, but you could also put in edibles such as strawberries, etc.

Keep us posted and good luck!

The fence planters is such a good idea. Thank you!

kittriana said:North Dallas, East, South? So many types of Crepe myrtles! This a 30 yr old, dark pink, TREE FORM Crepe Myrtle just northeast of Dallas about 1 hrs drive. The tree form ones are hard to find.
Roots are going to be your problem - they will travel, Crack your cement, cause multiple issues, but maybe you can find an evergreen type small tree? Yes, at least the first year you are going to be watering that tree to keep them alive. Are you close to the Duncanville area? Limestone caprock close to the surface causes multiple other problems there, esp with trees like red maple and red oak...

• Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia)
• Uploaded by kittriana

Thanks! I am in McKinney.

Crape Myrtles are known to be one of the safer trees to plant near your house/slab as the roots are less aggressive than most. However I like the idea of growing in containers there.

McKinney is a pretty area. Crepe is good. ( Arkansas has come up with a deep dark red bushy one) Too far north for Lorapetulum, Dogwoods do ok as an alternate. Redbuds...STAY AWAY from Bradley Pear! Silver maple might be a choice.
Container plants can be a constant chore in maintenance, but can be utilized - even with containers too large to move.

I suggest you avoid Silverleaf maple - weedy and short lived.

That concrete slab will be quite a heat island later on when summer comes, so got to consider finding heat tolerant plants/trees.

I have CMs 2' away from the driveway and hva not had issues in 40 years.

I think you will want some shade on that slab, like from a large crepe. Or redbud. I also like the vase shape of the crepe or redbud. But on crepe, caution you to research varieties, as there are some more upright and some spread wide. Lots of kinds, be sure you get the size and shape you want.
Wish I could think of a native instead of the crepe..

Vitex grows into a medium sized, bushy tree.

tarev, crepes love heat, as much as cannas do. We plant them in the medians as far north as Wichita Falls - they take heat, dryness once established. Old fashioned crepes from down south- Georgia- can get to 109' tall- which is why they went to cutting them to 5' off the ground. Todays cultivars are more determinate- but they all bloom on new wood. The shape is important, that tree form one isn't too large and has never been cut like the bush ones. Too far south for lilacs as well, though Persian lilac might do well in North Dallas...

Welcome!

I agree with that slab creating a lot of heat. Luis maybe got lucky or has a different shaped area.

I know next to nothing about CMs. They're very pretty but definitely not evergreen. If you're wanting privacy then you'll need to hunt for something evergreen. (I'm always on the hunt for evergreen trees, shrubs, etc.)

I don't think many succulents would survive the winter in McKinney. Maybe large yuccas or agaves. They won't have the height I think you're looking for but could work in between whatever you find that's tall. Depends on style.

Please don't plant Vitex. It's very pretty and you'll see that a lot of stores sell it. But it's not native and can be invasive.

I would strongly recommend the Yaupon Holly. It's evergreen, has a taproot, is a small tree (usually about 12'). Here's some info from the Wildflower Center in Austin. https://www.wildflower.org/pla...

You might want to check out the Collin County Master Gardeners.
http://www.ccmgatx.org

Also, the Native Plant Society of Texas is a good resource. https://npsot.org/wp/

Good luck, keep us posted, and happy gardening.

If you only knew how badly I fight the ilex vomitoria- yaupon. Gets bare as it grows taller, roots and spreading are awful, berries dropping everywhere and more of the stuff growing again. Shudder.