We have been looking for the "perfect" tree for our front yard. We want a tree native to North America. Our front yard gets mostly sun and is on a slight hill facing east. Our soil is clay but I could modify at least some of it near the root ball - I do not plan on replacing all of it though! We do not want a tree that will grow HUGE at the base and block our view of the street which is why we nixed the Basswood as a choice. We don't want anything that drops large fruit or nuts. We already have a few dogwoods, a pear tree and a plum tree that gets skeletonized by canker worms, tent catepillers and japanese beetles every year (therefore it is coming out). Our backyard is filled with maples and oaks. We want something different. We were considering a "Betula lenta" (sweet birch) but we are on the fringe of its habitat and are afraid it would not do well here. Are we wrong? Anybody have experience with these trees? We were also considering a Pinus sp., but most of these get very large at the base and seem very suseptable to disease. Any suggestions? thanks, Jon
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b845/index.html Note: The instruction "Backfill with a mixture of two parts soils from the planting hole and one part organic matter" is obsolete. Backfill with soil from planting hole only.
Thanks! What does "service life" mean? Many of these trees live longer than i.e. 30 years. I really do like some of these trees but had not considered them. I am surprised the salix is not recommended, this is one we were considering. I find it very ironic that you found a link to OSU for two reasons. First I went to school there, and secondly I originally tried asking the extension botanical service some questions on plant identification and they never responded. After an internet search we found UBC. We were so thrilled at the web site that we donated to the university - something I have yet to do for OSU.
I didn't read most of their material and have not heard of a tree having a service life before, presumably the exact meaning is defined somewhere in their discussion. Willows as a group are short-lived trees prone to breaking up and toppling when reaching the end of their span. Disease problems such as stem cankers are also likely to be seen. Garden value varies with specific kind and region.
