Help with decision on tree for the front yard

kirby

Hello

About 2 years ago, we had to remove a very mature Sweetgum tree in our front yard. It was infested with Carpenter ants. I miss the tree, but don't miss the sticky balls that they drop.

We are ready to replace it with something. We are looking at either an October Glory Maple or an Autumn Blaze Maple.

Does anyone have any advise on which is the best way to go, or does it even matter.

I have heard that the Autumn Blaze can have a surface root problem and possible helicopter seeds. I would prefer neither, but....

Thanks in advance.

kiwi_tree_steve

you will find those "helicopter" seeds or samaras, on both maples, as this is a feature of the Acer spp..
some pics of your front yard may help in advice for a tree, this will show other trees or buildings ect that can effect the trees health or growth patterns.

im assuming that Autumn colour change is important to you?
maby a Zelcova spp or Platanus spp might be an option, personally im a fan of Tillia ( lime /linden tree)

steve

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"You have to feel and touch a tree" Shigo

kirby

Thanks Steve

Are surface roots also common with all Maples?

Eric Frei

In my experience with liquid ambers here, definitely yes.

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Sean Freeman

Whilst it is true that there is variation in the general structure of the roots trees produce eg: some trees have greater proportions of fine fibrous roots in close proximity to the stem than others, personally I tend to think that gross root morphology has more to do with the nature of the soil environment than any genetic predisposition within the tree species.

In other words if the soil conditions are unfavourable then surface root development is far more likely.

treevet

I think surface roots also will develop when trees are planted too deep.

Back to the Sweet gums. I planted a number of the new cultivars available last spring that are intended to be fruitless. The jury is out on this for a few years.

Eric Frei

Sean, some trees like ficus love their surface roots. You can have same soil/terrain and a few different trees and certain trees will abound in surface roots whilst others do not.

On that note for instance, leopard trees, I cannot recall the last time I found surface roots on these, but lets say tipuana, liquid amber, ficus ... all the time. Some species definitely have a genetic predispositon to surface roots, sure soil conditions can exacerbate or alleviate the issue however they are not all the same IMHO.

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Sean Freeman

No they are not, however I think tree roots grow wherever they can find favourable conditions, and that is often a hard pick in some urban environments.

I was thinking more about roots further away from the stem rather than root crown and buttress development.

Eric Frei

Oh, like this ....

From this thread

Roots rising to attention

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kirby

Thanks much everyone.

Great food for thought.