Recommend a tree to plant in my front yard

[musicman]

These are some great suggestions, guys! I hadn't thought of the cherry trees before. I'm definitely going to look into the varieties mentioned.

I already swore off bradford pears, haha! I do like some Crape Myrtles, so they are in the running as well.

[peejman]

I'll also go with the cherry, redbud, or dogwood ideas.  None of those grow really fast so if you're wanting a decent sized tree in a few years, best to buy a bigger one.  Fruit trees are high maintenance and the yellow jackets and wasps will drive you crazy.  We've had a few but they never lived more than about 5 years.  

 

I'd also recommend waiting until spring to plant it.  Winters have been so variable lately that I wouldn't want to go through the trouble of planting a tree and then have to dig it up again and go through the hassle of warranty replacement when it's dead in the spring.   

[monkeylizard]

You guys forgot about the heavy pollen from the Bradford Pears. That alone is reason to get them.

[Patton]

I'd also recommend waiting until spring to plant it. Winters have been so variable lately that I wouldn't want to go through the trouble of planting a tree and then have to dig it up again and go through the hassle of warranty replacement when it's dead in the spring.

No, the survival rate is much greater when planted in the fall compared to spring. If you lived in Canada you would still want to plant in the fall. Planting in the fall gives you several months to develop a thriving root system essential for plant survival.

Dogwoods are fine, but keep in mind it is a tree that was never intended for full sun. They grow naturally under the canopies of other trees in the forest. Filtered light works best for dogwoods, but sometimes the will do well east side of a house with morning sun. There are almost endless options of beautiful trees meeting you requirements like, golden raintree, redbuds, crabapples, And etc.

[musicman]

This will be a full-sun, all day location. Good tip on that point, Patton. I'm hoping to plant probably right after Thanksgiving.

[peejman]

No, the survival rate is much greater when planted in the fall compared to spring. If you lived in Canada you would still want to plant in the fall. Planting in the fall gives you several months to develop a thriving root system essential for plant survival.

 

 

Then I must just have bad luck.  I've planted several in the fall and dug up dead trees in the spring with no root growth whatsoever.  Their spring replacements did fine. 

[Fourtyfive]

No fruit ; wasps. No pines or magnolias; clogged gutters and heck to mow under cause they shed all year. Anything else is prob ok .....

[MrsMonkeyMan2500]

Oh! Also, consider a lilac tree or bush. They grew everywhere up north. They smell amazing and they bloom forever. I got lucky when we moved to the new house, there was one in the front yard waiting for me!

[Wingshooter]

This will be a full-sun, all day location. Good tip on that point, Patton. I'm hoping to plant probably right after Thanksgiving.

My cherry and redbud trees do great in full, all-day sun.

[rugerla1]

These are some great suggestions, guys! I hadn't thought of the cherry trees before. I'm definitely going to look into the varieties mentioned.
I already swore off bradford pears, haha! I do like some Crape Myrtles, so they are in the running as well.

My wife HATES Bradford pears. If I planted one, she'd probably bury me under it...then move :lol:

[Patton]

Then I must just have bad luck. I've planted several in the fall and dug up dead trees in the spring with no root growth whatsoever. Their spring replacements did fine.

Well, most issues are a result of improper planting techniques like mulching too deep, planting too deep, or not actually digging a whole wide enough to eliminate air pockets.

[TGO David]

Cherry or redbud

 

When a guy who's business is forestry tells you what trees to buy... you might want to take note.  :)

[Omega]

I have around 8 acres that all I do is hunt on so I decided to plant fruit trees to keep wildlife coming over from the two 600 acres hunting clubs on either side of me.  I have planted quite a few, all in the fall; most have not made it, some last one year and others don't make it past spring.   I do have a plum tree that is alive and kicking, and I think maybe a cherry and peach that are still alive.  I plant them as good as I can making sure they have enough room for root growth and enough mulch to keep moisture by the roots, other than that these trees have to fend for themselves because I am seldom there.  I buy them for around $20, they are at least 2-3 years old, grown in TN and around 5' to 6' tall when I plant them.  I also plant any seed I can get to see if any of them will take before being eaten by squirrels.  I had a nice apple tree already there but the nice folks at the power company decided it may be a danger to their lines even though the branches were more than 50' to the nearest power line.  When I complained they went out and planted another but it didn't make it to spring.  I think I'll mix in some nut trees as well, maybe pecan and black walnut, I may not get to enjoy them but someone down the line will.

[peejman]

Well, most issues are a result of improper planting techniques like mulching too deep, planting too deep, or not actually digging a whole wide enough to eliminate air pockets.

 

 

I just do what it says on the tag.  I enjoy landscaping and have planted lots of stuff over the years.  We did have particularly cold winters when these died... like 30+ days below freezing and temps below 10 deg several times.  But they'd been in the ground for a good 3 months before it got super cold. 

 

The cold snap in the spring this year killed a tulip poplar tree in my yard.  It grew from a seedling I dug up at my parents house and was at least 5 yrs old and 15-20 ft tall.  It has just started to leaf out when the cold hit.  The trunk split from the ground up about 4 ft.  It'll likely be firewood before the end of the year.  :-\

[tartanphantom]

Southern Giant Pecan.

 

No fancy bright colored blooms, but they're rather hardy, they self pollinate and do not attract insects of the stinging variety-- no rotting fruit laying around on the ground either. Make great shade trees when mature-- and with shelled pecans running around $10/lb., you can make yourself some $$ for reloading supplies if you wish. :)

 

Besides, the nuts make great slingshot ammo in a pinch.

Edited November 12, 2015 by tartanphantom

[musicman]

That pecan tree looks interesting, but holy crap they get huge! Maybe if we just moved in 5 years we wouldn't have to worry about it! :-D

[Patton]

It's hard for me to talk someone out of a redbud; I always give preference to native species anyway. Twenty years ago we sold as many red maple and sugar maple varieties as we did other deciduous trees.

I always thought tupelo trees were deserving of so much more credit than they were given, and I can say the same about bald cypress trees.

[bud]

. Edited January 6, 2016 by bud

[Clod Stomper]

It's hard for me to talk someone out of a redbud; I always give preference to native species anyway. Twenty years ago we sold as many red maple and sugar maple varieties as we did other deciduous trees.

I always thought tupelo trees were deserving of so much more credit than they were given, and I can say the same about bald cypress trees.

Someone PAID for red maple? Why?

[Patton]

Someone PAID for red maple? Why?

Edited November 13, 2015 by Patton