Do you have just one or two oaks under consideration? In St. Louis the Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree will probably grow faster than oaks 90% of the time.

Happy Pin Oaks (which seem the generic box store oak here) do grow quick as well. Think its an Iron problem which turns them yellow.

Also what shape are you looking for?

Well, it's not necessarily a question specifically on MY tree lawn, more general curiousity, but since you asked...

I planted a NRO on my tree lawn this summer and it is doing well. Tulip trees are my real passion, though. Those two are my two favorite large "heritage" trees.

Our street is lined with vigorous and healthy sweetgums, a few Oaks, Ashes, and up farther, some London Plane Tree.

I was just curious as to everyone's thoughts on success of either tree in a 9' deep tree lawn (Which, assumedly, is quite spacious for an urban tree lawn).

That being said, my main concern is that of droppage/drippage. You have massive acorn droppage from oaks in the fall, or possible aphid sap falling from aphids on tulip trees. Both of which have their negatives, but neither of which is entirely burdensome or prohibitive.

I thought about it the other day because I was sitting in my car waiting for someone and a big acorn popped off an oak and hit me in the head!!!!!!!

I don't see how an oak could fit on 9'.

I thought about it the other day because I was sitting in my car waiting for someone and a big acorn popped off an oak and hit me in the head!!!!!!!

You have a convertible in Cleveland?

Seriously though, one thing I wanted to point out - a native oak will support more native insects in your environment than a tuliptree so from that standpoint, oak is the better choice as it adds more to the environment in terms of supporting bio-diversity.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link about that

do you mean a lawn that is 9 foot across ... i dont understand the term 'tree lawn' .. and no time to google this a.m.

neither large tree is feasible.. in that circ .. WITH THE FACTS GIVEN ...

what is on either side of the 9 feet ...

i find that my tulip poplars tend to shed limbs ... so i would not want that monster hanging over my house in 10 or 20 years ...

more facts please ..

ken

Personally tuliptree has really fallen out of favor with me and there are few instances where I would recommend it. Oaks tend to be far more durable and tolerant of urban stresses. Tuliptree sounds good on paper but when you end up living beneath mature ones, you quickly learn they aren't so great.

Again, they're nice trees and ideal in the right setting but I personally believe tulip is a poor choice for street plantings and garden plantings in most cases.

Our tulip trees shed branches constantly, and not just little twigs either, but good sized ones on a regular basis. I wouldn't want a big one over anything I cared about.

In urban settings like st louis city there are thousands of sycamores growing in yards which are amazingly small.

In 1960 built planned suburban st louis county they planted pin oaks and sweetgums by the hundreds in strips between the sidewalk and the street. Most of those are big mature trees now. In a neighborhood one of my friends lives in some oaks are in soooo small of areas they actually are encapsulating the curb. Amazing they're still standing.

The circa 2000 neighborhoods here have Bradford Pears and silver maples all over. The Bradfords are coming apart already. FAILURE there.

After reading more about the location i also prefer the oak.

I was just curious as to what everyone thought about the merits of either tree in a tree lawn.

Ken, a tree lawn is the space between the sidewalk and the street.

I have my Northern Red Oak there right now but I was curious as to what everyone on here thought about tulip trees.

The acorn somehow popped right into my window. I thought someone threw it at me and I was like what?!?!

And I don't see why a 9' deep tree lawn is not sufficient for an oak or another large tree...I see it all the time and trees thrive.

The space between the sidewalk and street can be called alot of things, but I never heard of tree lawn.

9' wide "insert name like tree lawn" might be a better description vs. deep.

With that said, Oak is commonly used for this space and Tulip tree is rarely used, nor should it be used in that case due to its sensitvity to stress and drought.

Some trees do fine in a 9' street lawn (aka tree lawn). I remember reading that white oak does better with a restricted soil area than red oak. Some trees do better with a wide open soil area. Tulipweed for instance.
And some trees do fine on a narrow street lawn but don't make the best street trees. Pin oak for example. It's downward pointing branches are not appreciated by pedestrian passers-by.

the space between the road and the sidewalk .. is USUALLY an easement.. and technically not your property ...

in my suburban experience in MI ... it was moot ... and the city really did not care what you planted there ...

some cities have severe restrictions on said area...

have you looked into what if any restrictions there are ... [forgive me if it is addressed above.. as again.. i am short on time right now ...

otherwise.. who cares what falls in the road ... lol .. act of god and all that ... plant whatever makes you happy .. just plant something ....

good luck

ken

Well, here in Cleveland, everyone calls that space a tree lawn. What else would you call it? It must be a regional thing.

The City of Cleveland doesn't give a hoot, really. There are bigger concerns out there for the city.

I planted my Northern Red Oak in my front tree lawn this summer. It's doing quite well. I made sure I got one fresh off the truck, and watered it really well all summer. It's happy and I hope that it will turn into a big, beautiful tree like all the other street trees around here. There were also shumards, but I wanted a native one to Ohio. And pin oak usually don't do that well here, turn yellow and all.

I wanted a red maple, but for some reason in this neighborhood they don't really seem to thrive. I'm happy with my choice.

I planted some amur maple on my narrower tree lawn on the side (I'm a corner house) and they are doing well, too. I have started the trimming and pruning process to make them more of a tree than a shrub and that's going very, very well.

Now, to remove the white mulberry in my backyard when $$$ allows...

It is a regional thing. Its more commonly called an easement, which Ken mentioned above and he is from Ohio if I'm not mistaken.

You likely have alkaline soil if Red Maple doesn't perform and Pin Oak turns yellow.

If your second guessing yourself as to whether you should have planted a Tulip tree in lieu of the Oak, you made the right choice with the Oak.

boooooo booo booo

i am NOT .. and never will be a BUCKEYE ...

i am a WOLVERINE ....

lol ...

have great friends in avon .. have you ever been to cahoons?? ... high end.. but what a selection jammed into a small space ...

ken

I would've planted that acorn!There's your tree right there!I would pick oak, same experience with tulip tree dropping branches, big ones 3inch diameter at least. There are many oaks to chose from with all the different leaf shapes. Poaky1