Replacing our beautiful Elm Tree

15 years ago

We suffered a great lost last week the wind blew down one side of our beautiful 95 year old, 80 foot tall Elm. We had to have the remaining tree cut down. I would like to know a good replacement native tree (SE Missouri) something that is a fast growing hardy tree or trees. We would apreciate any input anyone would have. We are already suffering the heat and windbreak our elm provided not to mention our orioles and other birds that had to relocate their nest,s Thanks

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Comments (3)

terryr
15 years ago
Wow, sorry about your Elm! I don't know if you've been to this site? On the page linked, click on Plant Picker, and enter in the criteria that you have. It's going to take a long time for anything to take the place of your 80' Elm.
maryann_va
15 years ago
I have a Valley Forge elm, a disease-resistant American Elm. You might see if you can replace your elm with one of those.

Here is a link that might be useful: Valley Forge elm link
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jemdandy
15 years ago
Chinese elm is a possible replacement, but I do not recommend it for your location. This is based on my experience of last winter. I had a chinese elm that grew spontaneously in my back yard. Likely, it started from a wind blown seed or one deposited by a bird. This tree proved to have weak wind resistance. My tree grew nicely for the first 10 to 15 years, and then it took on a growth spurt and made a crown too large for the trunk to support. Also, it frequently dropped small limbs.

My tree was destroyed last December during a windstorm. We had high winds (gusts up to 60 mph) for two days. A gust twisted the tree and it came down breaking the trunk about 6 ft above the ground. Luckily, it missed my neighbor's new plantings. The tree appeared to be tough with solid wood, but its top had grown too tall for the trunk to support. The tree was 30 yrs old.

In you location, you have a goodly number fo shade trees to choose from. However, I don't know of any similar replacements for a tough, American Elm. Unfortunately, the American Elm is susecptible to duthc Elm disease. The ones on my property succumbed after the trunk attained 12 inch diameter.

Maples make good shade trees, but watch for leaf size and toughness. Norway maples are reasonably fast growers, makes wonderful shade, and are strong. However, their leaves can be larger than a man's hand. These leaves clog gutters and are relative tough. The leaves will mat on the ground and kill grass if those are not removed in the fall. After a Norway approaches mature height, its root system will deplete the soil under the tree including moisture and killing most grasses.

A box alder is a fast growing maple, but is a "trashy" tree tending to drop many small dead limbs. The green wood is brittle and will snap if bent to 90 degrees. The tree will sacrifice its top and ends of big limbs in a wind storm to preserve its trunk. However, its leaf drop in the fall has a mild effect on lawns. The leaves dry up and crumbles. They are easily mulched with s simple lawnmower. When mulched, they can be left on the lawn. Box alders are the "weed" of the maple family. I do not recommend it because many people in my area have a low regard for the tree.

Replacing our beautiful Elm Tree

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terryr

maryann_va

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