what tree to plant?

[jjmk98k]

hello once again, it's Jim, the new guy with yet another question.

Our back yard is tree free and I'd like to change that. Not that I like having leaves to rake, but I do miss the shade the trees offer.

We live in South Eastern Pennsylvainia and our yard has a great deal of clay ( but not all clay)  to it. The tree would have to be durable to withstand lots of direct sunlight as our yard gets pounded with sunlight all day long till evening.....

the yard is well watered, sometimes very soggy after a very hard rain ( puddles in spots)

Any advice as to what tree will grow the best would be appreciated....


Thanks, Jim

[L. Wakefield]

   Ooh- this will not be practical, probably, but i know what I'd do if I were that far south and had room- Is plant a magnolia. I just love those! But it is a specialty thing.  lw

[Ron Scott]

What native species are doing well in your nearby forest or community area on the similar soil type? You might select a similar species if also suitable in your landscape.

[jjmk98k]

Our neigborhood seems to have a lot of pines, maple and walnut, few dogwood.. and yes, we have the Squirrel population to go with them...

My one neighbor buys 10 pounds of peanuts a week to feed them!!!!.......anyway

I never thought to just "look around" and see whats growing, I guess sometimes the obvious is the easiest to overlook...


and I'd never thought I'd hear anyone refer to Pennsylvanina as "That far south"

Thanks, Jim

[Minnesota_boy]

Do you grow any bananas "that far south"?  

[L. Wakefield]

   ya, it's a day's drive for me to get down there. I was in WV for 12 years and am very aware of the difference in climate and what can grow.

I'd love to have land and a graden in every state to go around and be with the plants- when I think of a place I think of the plants, the trees- more than the people or the politics or the wars    I think of the gardens and how in the war zones I want there not to be land mines.  lw

[jjmk98k]

I can relate to that... When I was in Saudi and Kuwait, all i could think of was how many stars I could see at night. The night time sky was always clear and free of clouds, little light pollution.....


Castor beans...... as in castor oil....eeeewwwww


No Bananas here near Philly, but we have our share of "NUTS"

[Stephen_Wiley]

No Bananas here near Philly, but we have our share of "NUTS"

Yeah, we have our fair share of politicians too !  

Jim,  how large of a tree are you wanting for your backyard?

[jjmk98k]

I have room for it to grow, so I'd like a decent sized one... the yard can more than support it with all the sunlight it gets and not too many trees to block it from sunlight once the leaves come back on...

Would like to choose a species that will grow at a rapid rate, not some slow poke  

[Texas Ranger]

tulip tree poplar, down here grows bettern inch a year, diameter.  YRMV

[L. Wakefield]

   Tulip poplars in WV are stately and elegant trees. I miss them a lot.  lw

[Ron Wenrich]

Clay, wet soils are good for pin oak and red maple.  You might get away with a Norway maple.    Sycamore may be another possibility, but they usually like a better soil.  

I wouldn't recommend tulip poplar.  They don't do well in clay.  Also prone to ice damage when you get those ice storms.  

I have clay soils and the Chinese elms do well, but put down a lot of fine branches.  I also have walnut, ash, black locust, and Kentucky coffee tree.  I don't have soggy spots in my yard.

[Ron Scott]

You night like the red fall colors provided by the red maple, especially if you have any pine or other species nearby for color contrast.

[Stephen_Wiley]

Tulip Poplar, may appear stately.........but like the rest of the fast growing - weak cell structured trees has a very invasive root system. Additionaly, it is an aphid magnet which result in a sap bath in the Spring.

Sycamore - if any in your family have any respritory problems, better stay away from this species.

If you like Elm you might consider Zelkova.

Although it prefers well drained soils, if you could amend your soil structure somewhat (need to find out how deep your clay base is) ya might possibly get a Northern Red Oak. My take a bit of effort but it is a fast growing oak @ 2'per year. Key will to be making certain roots are not standing in water !  

[rebocardo]

I would start with dwarf apple trees that only grow to 15 feet or so and deliver fruit in a year or two. Planting trees that deliver fruit is always worthwhile. If you like nuts, then maybe a walnut or hickory tree that will deliver valuable wood in 20 yeras or so. I have a neighbor down the street with a fig tree. It looks like a bush really, but, it is pretty.

Magnolias are nice, though I think PA will be too cold for them? I took some seeds from a good tree and planted them. I hope to use them as wind breaks on my small property since they are an evergreen, especially since the wood is worth so much. In 20-30 years it probably will be worth a lot more.

[rebocardo]

> Not that I like having leaves to rake

Never plant a magnolia tree. They drop big 6-8 inch long leaves all year long on your lawn. I just mulch them into the lawns that I do.