Fast-growing Trees to Avoid

Manytreestake decades to reach full sizing , and in this tight - pace world , not everyone has the longanimity to wait that long . fortuitously for the eager gardener , there are species that mature relatively quickly , and in the September / October 2012 government issue ofFine Gardening(#147 ) , North Carolina Master GardenerLinda Brandon shares 11 of her pet fast - growing tree for raring gardener .

Some trees that originate quickly should be avert , however , because of weak forest , numerouspests and diseases , encroaching roots , a short living duo , or other unsuitable character . Here is her “ unsportsmanlike 12 ” :

Leyland Cypress (xCupressocyparis leylandii)

Zone:6 to 10

This tree has so many negative characteristics , its success is genuinely a testament to the baby’s room diligence ’s marketing efforts . grant , it produce very apace , eventually reaching a height of 70 feet or so . However , with a life expectancy of only 25 - 35 years , it essentially begin to decline just as it ’s reaching its full elevation , and it is susceptible to a host of insect and disease trouble . Bagwormsare a major issue , requiring either hand - picking or spraying with an insecticide - and either hand - picking or spraying a 50 - metrical unit tall tree is a major ( and expensive ! ) undertaking .

Diseases affecting Leyland cypress include seiridium canker , botryosphaeria canker , cercospora needle blight , and a variety of theme diseases . And mean about it : Does your home landscape really need a hedge the summit of a five - floor office building ? Compounding the problem is the fact that people often plant large bit of these trees as monoculture screens , which means that whatever affects one plant will likely touch all of them . To add insult to injury , some salespeople cheerfully suggest planting these trees doubly as close together as they should be plant , saying , “ you could always take out every other Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree when they get crowd together , ” and you have a recipe for tragedy . This is the source of the largest numeral of tree problem calls to ourExtension Master Gardener Volunteeroffice Information Line .

Bradford Pear (Pyruscalleryana‘Bradford’)

Zone:5 to 9

Bradford pear is the source of the second largest number of trouble claim . This is a lovely tree : the springtime flush display is breathless , the overall shape is exceptionally symmetrical , and the fall color is glorious . It grows speedily to 30 - 50 feet , with a spread head of 20 - 35 feet , and it tolerates a range of soil conditions . regrettably , its branching structure leads to large limb or whole sections of the tree plainly splitting away from the proboscis during twist or ice / snowfall events . At that point , its highly symmetrical profile is no longer even remotely symmetrical ; since they ’re often planted in twin Seth lining a driveway , the peach of the entire planting is irrevocably damaged . They are also , unfortunately , an invasive plant in many area of the res publica . To top matter off , Bradford pears have a fifteen - year life expectancy - essentially do them “ disposable ” tree . nullify at all costs .

Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Zone:4 to 9

smuggled walnut tree is a beautiful Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , reaching a height of 75 - 100 feet , with a spread to jibe . It tolerates drouth and rabbits , offer edible fruit , and micturate a endearing ghost tree diagram . alas , its beginning produce chemicals called juglones , which are highly toxic to a wide chain of desirable landscape painting plants ( azaleas , rhododendrons , blueberries , peonies . tomatoes , peppers , and potatoes ) . Additionally , the stubble of the Nut can maculate wearable and sidewalks , so unless you have a really large landscape that will allow you to give this tree its own space , you ’d do well to stay away from black walnut .

White Mulberry and Red Mulberry (Morus alba,Morus rubra)

Zone:4 to 8

Growing to 35 - 50 foot , with a facing pages of 35 - 40 substructure , these are attractive , easily grown trees with interesting foliage and edible fruit . Their yield is very attractive to birds , they tolerate a variety of growing conditions , and they naturalize well ( and are , in fact , native to much of the country ) . However , both of these trees have weak wood and very weedy seedlings ; ashen mulberry tree is invasive through much of the res publica , while the yield of the scarlet mulberry tree is very messy and will maculate clothing and patios . Borers , whiteflies , bacterial blight , coral spot canker , bacterial foliage scorch , powdery mildew , root bunk , and witch broom are a few of the other problems that can affect the tree diagram , along with graduated table , mites , and mealy bugs . All in all , best to give this one a wide bunk .

Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Sycamore can be a magnificent specimen , growing 75 - 100 feet tall and broad , with a trunk diameter easy get through 8 feet , characterized by mottled , exfoliate bark . Sadly , it is prey to sycamore anthracnose , a pregnant disease that can gravely damage the tree diagram . Canker , leaf maculation , powdery mildew , bore bit , shell , Nipponese beetle , caterpillar , and mites all afflict Ficus sycomorus . More important to householder , though , is the fact that litter from the leaves , twigs , barque , and fruiting orb perplex substantial problems in term of maintaining a neat landscape . With so many marvellous tree usable that do n’t have these problems , why invest in this one ?

White Pine (Pinusstrobus)

Zone:3 to 8

lily-white pine is a moderate - sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , reaching a superlative of 30 to 40 feet and a bedcover of 7 - 10 understructure . regrettably , it is sham by white pine decline , which causes phonograph needle discoloration and browning , shriveled bark , oozing sap , and , in some cases , death . It ’s also vulnerable to injury from saltiness spraying , ice damage , and winter burn mark , and it ’s susceptible to ozone damage , an increasing terror in urban / suburban areas . White pine is also much loved by bagworms and yellow - belly sapsuckers . Again , why constitute a tree that you know is prone to this many problems ?

Birch (Betulaspp.)

Several varieties of birch are endearing landscape painting plants ; a few mutation dramatic exfoliating bark . In improver , many thrive in cockeyed environs ; stave off imbed in a hot , dry location , and aim for afternoon spectre . loosely pass 40 - 50 foot , on occasion uncommitted as a clumping tree with 3 - 5 stems , birches , particularly river birch rod ( Betula nigra ) , are popular landscape plant life . Many birch tree variety show are susceptible , though , to the bronze birch borer , a tree diagram killer , and they have a very shallow root system that can be easy damaged by soil mental disorder . Birch folio miner is another substantial trouble , and control postulate spraying , which is time - down and costly . Not a tree to be avert at all price , but think carefully before embed .

Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra)

Zone:3 to 9

Avoid this tree at all costs . characterize by a very tight columnar shape , the Lombardy Poplar can exceed 100 feet in height within 20 to 30 years . However , at that point , it ’s also reached the oddment of its life anticipation , so it ’s another “ disposable ” tree as opposed to a permanent landscape painting addition . Lombardy poplar have structurally weak branches that break easily when accentuate by wind , C. P. Snow , or shabu . Leaves and branches shed , make sanitisation publication in a home base landscape . Roots can invade sidewalks and damaged sewer lines . There are few deliver characteristics other than its speedy growth charge per unit . hold open your money and clothe elsewhere .

Norway Maple (Acerplatanoides)

Zone:3 to 7

An easily grown tree diagram , Norway maple will reach 40 to 50 foot in altitude with an almost equal scatter , and it stand air pollution and drouth quite nicely . It has a few problems ( verticillium wilting , which can be fatal , as well as sunscald and crack of the bark ) , but the a more significant issue is its thick foliage canopy and shallow root organization that severely limit what can be found within the tree ’s dripping line . aggregate that with the fact that Norway maple is consider invasive in ever - widening area of the country , and it add together up to another tree to avoid .

Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

Native to Central and Western China , the “ royal empress tree diagram ” ( it ’s market under a variety of names ) bears strikingly large leaves and showy , fragrant flowers on a frame that grows 30 - 40 foot grandiloquent and wide . alas , its woodwind instrument is weak and dependent to break , and the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , marketed as “ easy propagate , ” is so easily propagated that it ’s become trespassing in much of the easterly one-half of the country . We do n’t postulate more of these planted ; they ’re spreading quite nicely on their own without our assistance .

Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana)

A endearing tree that will get to around 30 foot , with a bedcover of perhaps 15 feet , the mountain ash tree is a just solid food beginning for a mixture of wildlife . That ’s all salutary , but the list of possible problems includes rock drill , aphids , sawflies , scale , mites , ardor blight , rust fungus , and scab . canker , crown gall , and powdery mould may also attack . Seriously now : do you want a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with this many likely job in your landscape ?

Mimosa Tree (Albiziajulibrissin)

Zone:6 to 9

Native to Iran and Japan , the mimosa tree is a endearing , delicate - calculate Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with fern - similar foliage and showy , pulverisation - pull - like pink flush . It tolerates high temperatures and a wide range of soil , admit in high spirits alkalinity . It grow chop-chop to 20 - 40 base , with a salient vase shape that get to it a endearing accent tree for a home landscape painting . Those are all strong positive property , but the Mimosa is susceptible to a serious wilt problem , as well as mimosa web worm . More substantial to homeowners , though , is the fact that it is a prolific ego - seeder , so you seldom have “ just one ” Mimosa . The wood is weak , and is often damage in violent storm . To top it all off , most folks found it near the house so they can revel its adorable flowers from a patio , and as the efflorescence fall , they ( and the leaves and seed pods ) send away onto the patio , where they become a significant housekeeping issue . good to enjoy this works in someone else ’s landscape .

Austree (hybrid between Hankow willow [Salixmatsudana] and white willow [Salix alba])

Zone:2 to 9

If you ’re looking for a temporary windbreak or an erosion control solution , this could be your tree diagram . It will never be a suitable shade tree , thought , and experts recommend planting it - if at all - along with more “ permanent ” tree if you ’re using it in a shelterbelt or screening software . The intercrossed Austree will , indeed , grow up to 10 feet annually in moist internet site , reaching a height of 35 - 45 feet and up to 30 understructure in width . “ Live fast , die vernal , ” though , put on to the Austree . Like most fast - growing trees , it has exceedingly watery wood that is very susceptible to violent storm legal injury , and it drops leave-taking and pocket-size branch non - terminate . tot up to that its susceptibility to disease and worm job , and you have a tree with very limited software and desirableness .

Photos : commons.wikimedia.org

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