FYI I have planted a October glory maple, Autumn blaze, and Nuttall Oak throughout the yard.
Silver maple bad rep?
Hello all I need to plant a shad tree in my back yard. Our patio gets blasted by the hot sun from the West in the Summer. I remember all the Silver maples from my childhood and many are still shading my grandparents street to this day. I really like the way they branch out and provide shade. They also grow fast. That said they always get a bad rep for roots and being weak in these articles! I see several of them without bad roots that run. I do see a few here and there that have ran. But don't most any trees roots "run" or can bust up concrete? Just wandering y'all's opinion. And if I do plant one how far should I from field lines? Thanks
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Whatever you do don't plant a silver maple.
I have a silver maple in my back yard, and there's another one nearby in my neighbour's yard that overhangs my back yard as well.
They are nuisance trees. They are always dropping wood all over the yard any time it's slightly windy, and drop larger branches if it's really windy.
As far as fall leaves, these trees are a pain also. The silver maples in my backyard have very dense foliage, and haven't started dropping leaves yet. It's November 1, and the last yard waste pick up day for my township is November 14. This isn't an issue for me because I've been using my mower to bag the leaves and add to a compost pile, but if you rake and bag, this is an issue. These silver maples make raking or mowing in the snow a real possibility every year.
I can't possibly recommend more strongly against planting them.
I have a silver maple in my back yard, and there's another one nearby in my neighbour's yard that overhangs my back yard as well.
They are nuisance trees. They are always dropping wood all over the yard any time it's slightly windy, and drop larger branches if it's really windy.
As far as fall leaves, these trees are a pain also. The silver maples in my backyard have very dense foliage, and haven't started dropping leaves yet. It's November 1, and the last yard waste pick up day for my township is November 14. This isn't an issue for me because I've been using my mower to bag the leaves and add to a compost pile, but if you rake and bag, this is an issue. These silver maples make raking or mowing in the snow a real possibility every year.
I can't possibly recommend more strongly against planting them.
Thank you for your insight. I will go with a different shade tree . :thumbup:Sinclair said:Whatever you do don't plant a silver maple.
I have a silver maple in my back yard, and there's another one nearby in my neighbour's yard that overhangs my back yard as well.
They are nuisance trees. They are always dropping wood all over the yard any time it's slightly windy, and drop larger branches if it's really windy.
As far as fall leaves, these trees are a pain also. The silver maples in my backyard have very dense foliage, and haven't started dropping leaves yet. It's November 1, and the last yard waste pick up day for my township is November 14. This isn't an issue for me because I've been using my mower to bag the leaves and add to a compost pile, but if you rake and bag, this is an issue. These silver maples make raking or mowing in the snow a real possibility every year.
I can't possibly recommend more strongly against planting them.
What about a fruit tree, like an apple or pear or something? Get shade, and fruit at the same time.
I don't think it'd be large enough to shade the area I need shaded. Plus I don't want to have to pickup fruit out of the yard 😓. I'm thinking another Red oak variety or Tulip Poplar?j4c11 said:What about a fruit tree, like an apple or pear or something? Get shade, and fruit at the same time.
An important note if you decide you like locust trees - be sure to get a thornless and podless variety such as sunburst or skyline.
I researched trees a couple of months ago. This is the top four list I came up with:
Bitternut Hickory
Accolade Elm
Kentucky coffee tree
Swamp White Oak
Bitternut Hickory
Accolade Elm
Kentucky coffee tree
Swamp White Oak
Contact your county extension office. They usually have a list of proven/ recommended trees for your specific area. For example a tree that thrives in Oklahoma might not be a good choice for Tennessee. Most replies above are giving tree recommendations based on their specific area and not taking into consideration what grows well in your area of Tennessee.
Never heard of an accolade elm.. I'll have to look it upg-man said:I researched trees a couple of months ago. This is the top four list I came up with:
Bitternut Hickory
Accolade Elm
Kentucky coffee tree
Swamp White Oak
That tree would be good in my back yardSinclair said:The city is going to come next spring and replace the tree they cut down on my front yard.
I've asked for a honey locust. Their shade is light enough to still allow sun loving grass to grow under it.
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better yet, restrict your search to the most respected ag department in the region and then try and weed through the documents, there are some hidden gems that most people would never consider. The hard part is sourcing those. The local sources sell what they sell for a reason, ebay and a couple of select forums can yield some pretty killer specimens.high leverage said:Contact your county extension office
You have to ask yourself, deciduous or evergreen, you can cluster columnar evergreens, odd numbers work best, and achieve year round privacy and shade.
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