Trash trees

Anyone in the states planning on planting trees or are having a builder put in trees in your new yard, do not let them nor do you plant Bradford Pear trees.  They are trash trees with a life of about 25 years if that lone.  They have surface roots and the fruit stinks.  The roots send out shoots all over under the tree.  And if it live 20 years it gets huge and puts out limbs that are brittle and prone to breaking.  If they blow over in a storm, it looks like a big pancake.  I have one in my back yard and have been putting off getting it taken out.  Sorry I did not have it taken out years ago.  One of the biggest headaches I have along with the box elder that came up on my neighbor's side of the fence.  It is also a trash tree and sends out surface roots.  Both are fast growing and that is why builders like them. And when small, they look cute.  So if you want 15-20 ft trees, opt for Crepe Myrtles.  And I am sure there are small trees in the north that you can use.  Here in Texas Crepe Myrtles, Mountain Laurel, Yaupon.  These are all small trees, relatively pest free and the mountain laurel and yaupon are native. 

I also have a big burr Oak in the back.  It is slow growing because it has a long root system that sinks down not out.  Hackberry grows really fast, but most consider it a trash tree.  I have seen them live to 35 years and still going strong when cut down.  So I am on the fence with that one.  I also have water oaks in the front.  I was told by a specialist that those would reach 120 feet.  Mine are around 45 feet.  They are doing well and this specialist told me that they are one of the best trees to have.  I have a 60 foot post oak beside the house and will have to drop around $1000 in the near future to get it taken out.  So my choice is water oak, hackberry, and crepe myrtles.  Those of you that live east of East Texas and south of the Ozarks can also grow Magnolias.  There is nothing more beautiful than a magnolia and nothing more infuriating than the dropped leaves of the magnolia.  But if I could grow one, I would.  That scent of the flowers is so wonderful.  It is worth the mess and if you let the branches stay near the ground, the mess is hidden and you can leave it and clean it out once a year.