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-lived. 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.
Comments
It is important to make sure you keep your yard trimmed, edged, and under control so that certain trees don’t overshadow the others ensuring they all have equal access to needed sunshine.
And please, don’t ever plant trees close to the house! I’m dealing with the fallout of previous owners’ foolhardy tree planting right now – ginormous trees with roots that interfere with plumbing/sewer and electrical lines, crack foundations, encourage mold growth on siding and prevent sunlight from ever reaching the interior of at least half the house. My husband wants to try to cut down said trees (which are dangerously close to the house), but I told him our insurance only covers damage by ficus. I’m afraid to ask what the cost to have the trees professionally removed would be!
We’re having a similar conversation on the forum. It seems a lot of tree planters have a hard time realizing how large little saplings can get. Most of us just don’t have the space for majestic trees, pretty as they are.
I’ve always wondered if the person who wrote that ficus commercial was a gardener. It sure does resonate with us, doesn’t it.
Linden is another “bad” tree: drops keys and blossoms, drips sap all summer which damages cars, decks, and outdoor furniture, is the last to lose its leaves in the fall so that often there is ice on the eavestroughs that need to be cleared before its leaves are down.
The house we recently moved into has an aspen tree smack dab next to the house. My husband had planned to move it to the middle of the yard, but a master gardener told us it is too tall already to do so. Does anyone have a solution for us? Our cat has already climbed it a couple times and each time we get clawed up getting her down due to her fear.
Also, we have a small evergreen tree, fir I think, too close to our gate and fence. Can we move it out some since it isn’t that big yet?
Why people don’t take the time to think it through before they plant a tree too close to something I just do not understand…..