Question
hello Tom:
I just bought a new home in OP area and very interested in shade trees ( backyard has west sun) to cover patio... and also I want to start a fruit/vege garden this summer... Would a potted pomegranate plant survive in this area... Also, I want to grow plumeria/frangipani plants as well... Any advice? recommend any nursery that might carry tropical plants? Thanks

Answer
Hi Mdp1517,
Thanx for your questions.  When you say OP area, do you mean Overland Park (because I'm in the Kansas City area also) or are you referring to somewhere else?

If you're in a non-tropical area such as the Kansas City area, you can find varieties of pomegranates that will grow in pots.  Many citrus and other tropicals will too.  I grew plumeria in pots for years before I accidentally allowed them to succumb.  I used to grow oleander, palms, avocado, citrus, plumeria, coffee, tamarillo, carob and other tropicals in tubs and drag them out every summer.  This got to be quite an event and I stopped doing it because I had to "carry" the heavy tubs down into the basement.  I also had a lot of different bananas which were easier to keep because you just chop off the tops and store them with the root ball wrapped in newspaper and they go dormant in a cool basement for the winter.  Check out Family Tree nursery at 84th and Farley or 7036 Nieman Road.  They carry a variety of tropical trees, shrubs, vines, flowers.  Their prices are a bit higher but they are quality plants and they have some guarantees.  Kmart sells palms and an occasional citrus tree a the beginning of the growing season and should have them in stock from about April to July.  Check out Larry's nursery in Riverside next door to Red-X.  Larry's also has a temporary nursery set up in the Walgreen's pharmacy parking lot on Roe Blvd across from the Price Chopper.  They usually set up in early April.  They have good prices.

As far as the shade tree in the backyard goes, if you're wanting to have a small vegetable and fruit garden, just make sure the shade tree you get is a smaller type of tree like a redbud or mimosa (mimosas can be invasive throwing seedlings all over the yard if it isn't well mowed.) so the whole yard isn't shaded.  Bigger trees will shade the whole yard and then you're not going to be able to grow a fruit or vegetable garden.  Look for dwarf versions of fruit trees and keep them well pruned so they don't get overgrown.  I do not recommend Bradford pears in fact, I detest these man-made mutants which do not have a strong trunk and have a tendency to crack and split after some of our strong windy rain storms.  Check out Family Tree Nursery for smaller ornamental trees to use as shade trees for your patio.  Last but not least, many subdivisions in Overland Park have very strong and active Homeowners Associations.  Many of these associations have rules against backyard gardening and some of them have rules about the type and number of trees and shrubs you can plant in your yard.  So, make sure you're in compliance with your local association first so there is no conflict later.  I hope this helps.
Tom