Yard Trees Gone Bad.

I often talk about how every yard should have at least one long-lived tree planted in it. If we happen to purchase a home without mature trees, a lot of us opt for the look of instant age by planting fast growing trees, like poplars and birches. But fast growers are rarely long-livers. That’s something to keep in mind when you’re planting a tree in someone’s memory. About’s Guide to Forestry, Steve Nix, has some suggestions of his own about what trees NOT to plant. There are no bad trees, just trees with bad behavior. More to the point, trees with habits that aren’t suited to the average yard. In his 10 Yard Trees Gone Bad, Steve points out that “A tree can outgrow its original purpose very quickly or grow into its intended purpose very slowly.” Which would you prefer?

Photo Provided by Mark Woodward / Stock.xchng.