Trees can add beauty and value to a home landscape – if you plant the right species and find the right spot for them. Here are trees you DON’T want to plant in the home landscape.
Callery Pear:
Beautiful white flowers in spring and burgundy foliage in fall. Problem is the structure is weak. Invasive!
Siberian Elm:
This is a fast growing, aggressive tree that tolerates difficult growing conditions. It has messy seeds that drop all over the place. It isn’t the most attractive tree.
Tree of Heaven
Tree of Heaven is an imported pest that is dirty, messy, invasive and just not suited to home landscapes. It gives off a chemical to kill competing vegetation.
Lombardy Poplar
Lombardy poplar was once beloved as a quick-growing screen tree. Homeowners quickly found out that it had a limited life of about 15 years.
Weeping Willow
Weeping willow is a beautiful tree when seen along the shoreline, but it’s much too big and messy for the typical home landscape. The roots go everywhere.
Staghorn Sumac
Staghorn sumac is a relative of poison ivy and causes allergic skin reactions for many people. The roots keep popping up new sprouts causing many sumacs to grow.
Ash
Ash is a tough, quick growing tree with beautiful fall color. But the emerald ash borer is decimating the populatin of ash trees.
Cottonwood
Cottonwood is an awe-inspiring tree when it matures. But its roots can be problematic around house foundations. It drops leaves and sticks making it messy.
Russian Olive
Russian olive is tough. Too tough cause you can’t kill it. This is an invasive pest that should not be sold or planted.
Use caution when purchasing shrubs and trees. Be sure they are suitable for your property and not invasive.