Big Old Shade Tree - what is your favorite species?

[Jstpssng]

I feel like it should be after what we paid to move these. Lol. I needed them moved further from our building for a remodel project. Planted as 4' trees 10 years ago. Most now are around 10" trunks and 25+ feet tall. The spade they used was a 90" spade. We moved 7 maples and 12 cedars last fall. All but 1 of the cedars made it so far.

That would be a fun toy to have. I took a few landscaping courses in college, and one of the guest speakers was from a family nursery down in southern Maine. He told of spending a day and a half "pit digging" large trees which his father had planted decades earlier. Since then I've dug trees and shrubs using that method, but it's labor intensive and time consuming compared to what you had done. (Also a PITA.)
Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Oaks are generally slow growing, but a Pin Oak will grow quicker than a red or white oak, has strong branches and a nice shape. The leaves stay on much longer than most other trees, so clean up will be late in the season. But we love sitting under ours, lots of great shade.

PS: we have quite a few Sugar Maples, very pretty tree but tall and straight, not much in the way of shade. Also, the seed pods are a pain, and the branches are weaker than most other trees. Lots of clean up every spring or after a strong wind storm.

That don't sound like sugar maples, they will spread out and provide nice shade.

I have some really nice 30-40 ft oaks, red and white, i started from acorns about 15 yrs ago. I prefer red, whites hold leaves too long.

 

[goeduck]

I have some really nice 30-40 ft oaks, red and white, i started from acorns about 15 yrs ago. I prefer red, qwhites hold leaves too long.

30 to 40 in 15 years is not bad at all. I think I have that many years left in me before :tombstone:.

 

[jk96]

How did the trees do the next year?

We moved them last October. Right now all 7 maples look great. Out of the 12 cedar trees (20+' tall) I moved 11 look good. One did not make it.

 

[goeduck]

We moved them last October. Right now all 7 maples look great. Out of the 12 cedar trees (20+' tall) I moved 11 look good. One did not make it.

I would guess later in the summer would be the tough time, but good to know that a tree that size can be moved.

 

[jk96]

I would guess later in the summer would be the tough time, but good to know that a tree that size can be moved.

Yes. Will need to do plenty of watering, especially this first year after the move. These were right on the edge of the max size they recommended with the spade they had available.

 

[tjkubota93]

We have a willow oak that I like. Has the classic shade tree look. It has the small skinny leaves. Some incorrectly call it a pin oak.

It casts its shadow on the a/c units in the morning and the house covers them from the sun in the afternoon.

 

[JamesHW]

We’ve lost 4 100 yr old maples around our house over the last 10 years (one took out an old barn, 2 we took down to protect the house). So maples are my fav and we have some nice ones coming along. Growing up in DC many of the streets were lined by huge elm trees that created a wonderful canopy arch over the streets. Sadly most of those succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

30 to 40 in 15 years is not bad at all. I think I have that many years left in me before :tombstone:.

White oak in middle, red oak behind to the right, a very pretty maple too close to the house on the right.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If you was close, i have some 15' oaks i could give you. I love oaks, i plant sprouting acorns to get them started.

White blooming tree here is black locust. To the left is another dying locust. Not sure why, but ive had 4 locust, and 2 elms die in this area. All here before i bought the land. 2 locust that died were young, very strange for them to die. Ive lost many elms, due to dutch elm disease. I have young oaks planted below these that i need to move, or just let them go.

Very large pignut in background is on road right of way, is half rotten on the backside, with large limbs on my side. When it goes, will fall in my yard. I contacted county about it, they claimed it was mine.
Way too large for me to bring down. I keep hoping a storm will bring it down.