topic Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question??????? in Garden

Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

dmod nj — Sun, 21 May 2017 21:42:30 GMT

Hi,

I have an opportunity to plant a tree. I live in northern Jersey. It get morning and afternoon sun....it would face east and south for the most part.

I am looking for suggestions on a fastish growing tree. I don't care whether it flowers or not. It would be a more mature ? tree.....6-8 feet tall.....not a small sapling.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

kaydee50 — Sun, 21 May 2017 22:14:13 GMT

We had a Japanese maple in our front yard in Bergen County. It was beautiful.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

JustJazzmom — Sun, 21 May 2017 22:29:15 GMT

Hiya dmod!! How tall do you want it?

Leave at least 20' or more from roofline for the Kwanzan and magnolia trees.

How about a Kwanzan cherry, a later blooming saucer magnolia tree like 'Jane'. or a Kousa pink dogwood like 'Satomi'?

Amalanchier or service berry trees are nice. Is this for a utility strip or on the property itself?

Lilac trees are nice too and later blooming like 'Ivory Silk'.

Ginko male trees are nice as well.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

Kachina624 — Sun, 21 May 2017 22:30:30 GMT

I would consider a Cottonwood as they grow everywhere and are very fast growing. They turn a beautiful yellow in the fall. Be sure the tree is sterile because you don't want cotton flying all over. I think all the commercially grown trees are.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

gardenman — Mon, 22 May 2017 11:01:48 GMT

One quick warning. As a general rule "fast growing" equates with "weak and fragile." In general, the faster a tree grows the less likely it is to survive bad weather. If you don't mind replacing it every five to ten years then a fast growing tree is a decent option for you, or if you're planning to sell soon it's a great option.

Here's a link to a Better Homes and Garden online article about this.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/trees/fast-growing-trees/

A more expensive option up front, but less expensive overall is to buy a more mature, slower growing, sturdier tree. Just be prepared for some sticker shock. There are professional nurserymen who grow quite large trees over twenty or more years to a good size, sometimes in large containers the whole time sometimes in the ground, that they'll then dig and transport to your location for planting. You can go from no tree to a thirty foot tall tree in a matter of hours. They'll often have large tree spades they use to dig the trees to minimize root disturbance and to transport the trees.

These trees are expensive as they tie up a lot of space in a nursery for ten, twenty, or more years, then are a royal pain to move, but if you've got a golf course, expensive new home, or someplace where you need a big tree now, they're often your only real option.

In NJ we have a firm called "Trees Now" (you can look up their website if you're interested) that has an 800 acre nursery where they grow mature trees and then dig and transport them to your location. As you can probably imagine an 800 acre nursery in central NJ brings with it some fairly high operating costs that have to be passed onto the buyers, but if you want a big, impactful tree in short order, that's the way to get it. These are trees that have led as good a life as is possible and gotten the best care possible up until the time you buy it. They're specialists in growing big trees and digging and moving big trees.

The costs of removing a weak, fast growing tree (tree removal, stump grinding, replacement, etc.) every ten years or so, can make the costs of buying a mature, sturdier tree balance out nicely and avoid all of that inconvenience. If you can afford to spend more upfront, you might want to give Trees Now a look.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

dmod nj — Mon, 22 May 2017 11:49:18 GMT

Hi everyone,

THANK YOU so much for all the info and suggestions. I will take my time to look up and read about all suggested.

When/If I need further guidance, I'll be back.

I can't thank you all enough for the information and sites. Gardening is not my strong suite, so I knew enough to know............I don't know much. lol

THANK YOU!!

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

Nomorebirthdays — Mon, 22 May 2017 14:17:07 GMT

Like garden man said I stay away from soft woods. If looking for large tree locust trees create a nice canopy and leaves are small and do not require as much clean up in the fall.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

JustJazzmom — Mon, 22 May 2017 14:43:35 GMT

Best to get a smaller sized tree so the planting hole will not be huge. Those huge trees gardenman is discussing are great if you have a lot of property and the room for it. Try and find trees with rootballs of 3' diameter or less.

Take into account any wires or any other in the sky obstacles before choosing a tree. Google 'wire friendly trees' and most likely PSEG of NJ will have info either on their website or if you contact them for suggestions.

Do not plant Norway maples, they are considered invasive. Oak trees and zelkova trees are also nice choices.

Remember to water the tree in well and set up a soaker hose around the tree in a spiral so the roots get adequately watered.

If you are planting the tree, make sure the hole is as deep and twice as wide as the rootball. Be sure to remove the burlap and cut or roll back the wire cage. Inspect the tree at the rootball and find the area where the tree flares outward before the roots begin. That flare should be above ground. Many nursery field practices bury that flare with soil in the transport process, so you may need to remove a few inches of soil to see that flare.

Your tree when planted shouldn't look like a lollipop sticking out of the ground. That flare should be visible.

Staking or not? Some people will stake a tree to prevent it moving or tilting for a year, then remove stakes. But ideally, the tree does need to move, the gentle rocking motion it experiences when it's windy, help the tree to put out more roots to anchor it better, so no staking is needed.

Let us know what tree you end up getting.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

software — Mon, 22 May 2017 15:02:30 GMT

Why a tree?

What are you looking for that requires you to plant a tree?

Some bushes grow fast & large, many are evergreen, some flower, some change colors.

Consider other options besides a tree, unless you have plenty of room for one.

@dmod nj

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

Lilysmom — Mon, 22 May 2017 19:47:43 GMT

@dmod nj, you have some great suggestions here. It would help to know the purpose of the tree ... do you want it to block something? I echo the comments about fast growing trees. My neighbor planted one and it was close to the powerlines. In a winter storm, it would take out the power. The root system on this tree was weak. At the end of the day. he was sorry he planted it.

I love Ivory Silk. I have three. They get to be a pretty big size. Bigger than I thought (I am in Zone 5/6...Nova Scotia). It's ok where I placed them. Also love Japanese red maple. If you plant an oak, get ready for Fall cleanup. The leaves do not breakdown. I love the tree but hate the mess. Mature oaks are majestic.

Good luck @dmod nj! LM

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

dmod nj — Tue, 23 May 2017 20:35:13 GMT

Thank you all for your suggestions, tips, hints and sites.

The tree is going on my property. It will not be near overhead wires. I am planting it to replace an OLD tree that was taken down due to disease. The stump was grinded down. Is that the right word for it? Ground down?? Anyway.......you know what I mean. The landscaper will put new top soil and take care of planting the tree.

I looked up all your suggestions. Some would work better than others in the spot. I have made a list of trees for the landscaper. He and I will meet soon to go over prices, what works best in the spot and availability. He had some suggestions too. I am looking for it to shade the house as it grows.

THANK YOU all for your comments and help. I so appreciate it.

Re: Fast growing tree in northern Jersey question???????

gardenman — Wed, 24 May 2017 11:36:44 GMT

Since you're planting it close enough to your house to shade your house, you definitely want a sturdy, more or less storm-proof tree. Whenever there's a nor' easter, big thunderstorm, etc, you see the images on the local news of broken trees falling onto houses and crushing the house. If you're planting a tree close enough to the house to shade it, you want the strongest tree possible. The cost of replacing a weaker tree is high enough without having to put on a new roof and repair the house structure.