Tree Advice from the Planet
 

Are there any arborists out there? A local nursery is having a tree sale this weekend and the Mrs. and I think we will be making a purchase. Has anyone done this before? I’m thinking of a maple that turns bright red in the fall. What other trees are out there that I should consider for a Kansas climate? We will be planting in the fall as the nursery will hold on to our purchase until that time.

I'll split a Bradford pair with you.

Yes, I've purchased trees before.

Where are you looking to plant something? Drainage, sun, etc? Without more details, it will be tough for anyone to offer decent suggestions.

I've got a couple of sunset maples and they've been really easy to work with.

I don't believe in abortion.

I'd LOVE to be able to plant some maples in my front yard. But they won't grow here because of the altitude. Around 4000' :(

I like that. Well done.

LMAO

I'll take "Swords" for 500 Alex.

Blackgum.

http://img.skitch.com/20090708-m5mue...qi.preview.jpgClick for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

The tree will be in strong morning sunlight and good evening sun, behind house on the east side. As far as drainage goes it is a spot of good run off.

I have one neighbor with a Sunset Maple and another with an October Glory Maple. Both are very nice with awesome color in the fall. The October Glory seems to be more intense in its fall color, but that may have more to do with soil conditions, location, etc..

Edit: I found this pic of an October Glory. This is almost exactly the shape of my neighbor's tree with the intensity of color in the fall.

http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/im...0-NoLeaves.jpg

This is an Autumn Blaze maple.

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/i...-1201061tp.jpg

Try an Acer grandidentatum

About 2/3 down the page:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07421.html

Don't plant a mable near buildings or driveways. They're not really a major problem until they get 50 or so or older. Ice, wind brittle.

Just make sure you don't get too large of a tree for the spot you plant, i.e. watch for power lines, your house etc. Don't look at the size of the tree now, but it's size at maturity. Too many people plant large trees too close to their houses. Yeah a maple looks nice out the back window, but not in 10+ years when it's growing into the house, too large for the spot and needs to be cut back/down.

Maple roots tend to grow close to the surface, sometime making it difficult for turf growth. An area where there is 'good' run-off may make this matter worst, potentially eroding any fill that is left above the surface roots exposing them even more. I would suggest that if you do plant a maple of the east side, try to perhaps to redirect the 'good run-off' around the tree rather than directly over the tree base to decrease the chances of erosion.

You should have to worry too much about a weak maple on the east side. Maples that snap are usually a result of sun scalding. These are young trees planted on the west or south side of a home. On a sunny day after a harsh cold snap, or long winter, the inside of the tree will start to grow quicker than the bark/exterior of the tree causing the sun scalding where you see the trunk split. This leads to a weaker mature tree.

I dont know what your specifications are with a tree, but you can't go wrong with a Eastern Redbud in Kansas.

Bradford Pears

http://dforeman.cs.binghamton.edu/~f...in%20Bloom.JPG

& Rosebud trees are nice in the spring.

http://image40.webshots.com/41/1/80/...3srdOsK_ph.jpg

How about the State Tree of Kansas? Not much shade, but at least it doesn't take a lot of water.



http://i.pbase.com/o4/42/618542/1/53....PowerPole.jpg

May I suggest a hedgeapple tree. When it starts bearing fruit, the hedgeaples make great weapons! We used to throw them at cars as they drive by.

Don't pick a tree based upon what it looks like for 2 weeks in the fall or for a week in the spring. Pictures on the internet or on marketing labels are vastly misleading and show a tree at the height of it's attractiveness. You'll be looking at that tree for 50 other weeks of the year. All the other factors should be higher on your priority list.