We are trying to brainstorm...
This spring we are planning on cutting down a large crabapple tree on the southwest side of the house. We hate to give it up but it has slowly been declining in recent yrs.
Our question...what do we plant in place of it for shade?
We were thinking of a Blue Spruce but it grows slow and doesn't provide much shade.
Ashes are out because of an insect they have found in the Midwest that is destroying alot of the ashes.
We already have alot of sugar maples...
We have a red oak but it doesn't seem to grow as fast as they said it would.

PLEASE HELP!! Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Greg

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In the midst of the storm..I find the greatest Peace. I don't know what tomorrow holds..but i know Who holds tomorrow.

Hi Greg,
The Paulownia's are very fast growers...
They grow very fast..
Your are right on the end of the growing zone for those, zone 5..They like to be protected from strong winds though...
They grow straight up, are prized for their timber in Japan and it has beautiful purple flowers on it the second year I think, and is completely filled out in 3 years......
Also, you can cut them down for their wood and in 3 years you'll have your tree back again, it resprouts from the base of it..
almost very hard to kill....
Here's a place to get them from and some growing info for them as well..

quote:

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"Don't put your face over it or you may get a mouthful of leaves."
Jimmy Carter- Former President and Commercial Paulownia
Tree Grower, discussing the trees fast growth.

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Royal Paulownia Tree Grows up to 30 ft in 3 years and fills with Lush Flowers!

Weezie

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Greg here's some stuff I found while browsing for you, take a peak....anything look interesting???
Our 10 Most Popular Trees for Zone 5

The National Arbor Day Foundation Trees

Weezie

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Hello. I got a "PM" about this forum the last day or two. I checked yesterday when I had more time, but it looked like the site or server was down.

Today, I'm into a intense 3 day project - so my internet time is minimal. But I do have a few ideas.

From the nature of the way this post opened and some replies, I'm under the impression that there is a lot of room - room for a big tree.

Red oak should have grown big. If not, can't explain. But a red oak or scarlet oak get as big as fast as a pin oak does. Scarlet and pin are near identical except scarlet drops leaves on time. I like them, but not sure if this would be my first choice.

You could do a group (not clump) of river birch. It is much more resistant to borers than Himalayan white birch. River birch are narrow, that's why I was thinking a few in a row or group.

Whatever you do, don't get a variety of Black Locust - Robinia. (very weak - breakage potential is huge).

London plane have huge roots and there is a fuzz in the leaves and twigs that agitates sinuses - especially if raking or mowing occurs. Raking is essential in fall.

European ash berries can make a mess, even though birds like them. But the leaves are small for shade. I rarely see a nice old specimen.

Honey locust gets a fungus to a degree and it's usually a gnarly, hard to thin and prune tree. The little leaves can track in very easily if it's near a foot-traffic area.

Flowering pear are brittle and get a disease fairly often.

Flowering plum is a consideration if you pick a perfectly branched specimen, don't mind a bit of fruit. These can be weak unless pruned yearly. The aphid factor with these is the drawback.

I think some of the best trees with few problems are the Acer rubrum like 'October Glory' or 'Red Sunset' or etc..

Usually these are good. If there is a problem, it's almost always due to pitiful soil or poor planting.

If the soil is reasonable, and a nice wide hole is made, this is a very nice tree.

Choose trees with as few or minimal "V" shaped unions as possible. There needs to be a bit of a "U" shape even if it's a V with a tiny bit of U shape.

I picked Acer truncatum 'Norwegian Sunset' for shade by our driveway. Reasonable fast. Nothing to brag about for fall color, but decent fall color.

These are some thoughts.

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M. D. Vaden of Oregon

Web Site

Oregon Bigfoot Trap trail

Photo Albums - Oregon Scenery & Tree Care

I don't think I'd place Acer rubrum in the same category as silver maple - not as weak.

Here's a decent photo of a medium size one - still young:

October Glory in autumn / Pelham Municipal Center web site



Schmidt nursery (a cross with the Acer truncatum like I have - this is a bit different)

Norwegian Sunset is on the Schmidt page

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M. D. Vaden of Oregon

Web Site

Oregon Bigfoot Trap trail

Photo Albums - Oregon Scenery & Tree Care

The fastest growing tree that I have ever seen from personal experience have been birch trees. I planted one that was three feet tall 4 years ago and now it must be at least 12 feet tall.
If I would of known how fast it was going to grow I would of planted it in a better place.

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Tamara's Photos
Thinking Spring, Thinking Spring...Nope, doesn't work.lol