Hi, I have a girlfriend that bought property in an old farmer's field. She would really like some nice shade trees but doesn't want to wait 40 years to get them and she doesn't want them to blow down in a storm or die at an early age like Poplars do. Any good ideas??? Karole

-- Karole (Biz3boymom@aol.com), June 27, 2001

Answers

You don't say where you're from, but here in Northern NYS a silver maple grows really fast if you sock the water to it (any maple needs a lot of water the first few years to survive the transplant well). Silver maples can break in a heavy ice storm, but then, most trees will lose something in that kind of condition, and none of mine broke to the point where I'd even consider cutting them down (NNYS had a heck of an ice storm in Jan. 1998). They are MILES above another maple relative, the Box Elder. Box Elders go to pieces in an ice storm, although I think they are still better than poplars. Box Elders grow like weeds, too, but I wouldn't recommend them to people for their yards.

Jennifer L.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@imcnet.net), June 27, 2001.

I have been pleased with the little black locust sticks I planted in 1998. They were literally just tiny sticks, and now they are about 10 feet tall and very leafy. Not sure about life span or durability, but they are fast and nice-looking.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), June 27, 2001.

Transplant. There are tree services which will actually transplant fairly large trees. I'd assume that this is an expensive solution.

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), June 27, 2001.

Oaks and Black walnuts make the nicest shade trees. No, they don't grow fast, but good things take time.

And Yup, transplanting big trees is mondo expensivo and the trees typically really don't do all that well. You usually lose a good bit of the tap root when they do that and they invariably don't dig the hole big enough.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), June 27, 2001.

Karole -- gotta jump in here. My husband is an arborist and has run his own tree service for 17 years. If you move a larger tree with a tree spade, you can achieve good results, though you must do it right. Right time of the year. Right type of tree. Right spot to put it. Right type of relocation TLC, etc. We're on the flat high prairies of SD. Yes, we do have enough trees to keep him busy. Planting trees native to your area would be best. Catalpas are good, fast-growing trees. Ash trees. Hybrid elms. Mulberry. Russian olive. Plant different kinds, so all your trees aren't wiped out in one infestation of bugs (ie: ash borers) or wiped out by one single ice/wind storm. Good luck

-- Lynn (ljbixler@dtgnet.com), June 27, 2001.

We planted a cottonless cottonwood tree five yrs. ago. It came bare root ( a stick with roots) Well, we planted it and everyone tease us about our twig. That twig is 3- 1/2 ft around at the base and 20 ft. tall, all this in only five yrs. ( this is the fifth summer ) A word of causion, they sometimes have shallow roots, so don't plant near concrete, or septic systems. They are very hardy too.

-- Kellein MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), June 27, 2001.

I have a couple of thoughts for you on the subject. First, check with your local agricultural extension office, usually found in your county seat. Those people can be a real wealth of information. Secondly, if you want a little headstart without paying for a transplant and the tree itself, check with some of the developers in your area. Most have subdivision going up all the time (another topic for another time) and usually bulldoze a fair number of trees of all sizes to make way for roads, retention ponds, etc. They shouldn't mind if you go in and dig out some of those before the dozers get there. If you get a deal like that worked out it might be worth paying to have some moved or worth renting one of those big tree moving spade deals for a long weekend. Hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), June 28, 2001.

I have a very steep field that I wanted to turn in to a pine forest. So to start the project, I joined the National Arbor Day Foundation. For a $10 membership fee, I received 10 free trees (pine trees in my case). They were very, very small but from what I have heard, planting small trees is ok, even better. And they send you a catalog where you can order more, different types trees at very good prices.

Their web address is www.arborday.org

Just a thought . . .

Lyn

-- Lyn (lyn.bennon@alcoa.com), June 28, 2001.

Actually there are hybrid oaks and black walnuts that will grow faster (a LOT faster) than the "wild", generic sort. I used to know who sold them. Used to. Try a web search with "hybrid oak" or "hybrid black walnut".

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), June 28, 2001.

An important consideration for strong trees is whether they have spreading, invasive roots, or have a deep tap root. I stay away from trees with spreading roots near the house (maples, box elders, mulberry, etc.) Stick to trees with deep tap roots like hackberry, oak, pecan, etc. Hackberry trees are like elm trees and are fast- growing shade trees that tolerate extreme conditions. - Liz Rhein

-- Liz Rhein (merhein@shentel.net), June 28, 2001.

Around here, catalpas will grow 5 to 6 feet a year, or more. I have a three year old tree that is 15 foot tall, and already throwing alot of shade. These are hardwood trees, and branch out nicely, and very sturdy in the wind. The beautiful clusters of white flowers in early summer is an added bonus too.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), June 29, 2001.