In SE WI they are available, especially the hawthorn and dogwood. IMHO Maackia amurensis is an extremely underutilized tree. I have the straight species and I'm considering adding either 'Starburst' and 'Summertime' to a tougher spot. Crabapple and Japanese Tree Lilac are common street trees so those would work as well (as suggested above). I have JTL 'Summer Snow'...I think its superior to 'Ivory Silk' based on shape, flowers and winter seed pod persistance. If you go the Malus (crabapple) route search this forum for "Malus with Good Reliable Fall Color". Folks here came up with several fine cultivars for our area. How close are you to Waterloo? McKay nursery is good for tried and true selections but lack the unique selections that work well for area. I'm lucky to have Johnsons Nursery down the road from me.

how apropo .. appropriate to various other postings .... if you have any spare space... BEG for some good FREE chips ... if access is SAFE and simple... winter cut chips are the best.. due to lack of greenery ... they will not do it if there is any burden or safety concerns ... but if its close and easy ... we went through this.. right after i invested in a generator and electrician ... nothing like the power going out in the dead of a MI winter for two or three days ... two or three times in one winter ... they had to dump the trucks at the end of the day ... or the chips would freeze solid into the truck ... they were based 40 miles away ... and would just park the truck locally .. with 5 acres.. and very easy in/out ... they gave me about 150 yards of chips in one winter ... he said.. just let us know when you have enough... i told him just say good bye when you arent coming back ... every week or so.. he would make sure.. and i would laugh.. then spring came.. and the horror of the scope of the project set in.. how in the heck was i going to move it all ... lol ... had to hire a front end loader from a cousin .. and luckily a new neighbor with a JDeere moved in ... anyway .. thx for the post ken

Such an eyesore. Doesn't this type of decision making just confirm that people in general are really funny. The power lines, must have been there before someone planted a tree, so why did they plant it just about under them? The only explanation I can come up with is that I am always planting shrubs too close together. I just don't seem to have the visual ability to gauge distances very well. Especially since I purchase small sizes of shrubs that will eventually be a lot bigger. So why don't I get the measuring tape out? I don't know the answer to that question. lol I did use the measuring tape just the other day, when I was planting a new shrub. But in my own defense, sometimes the information on eventual width is absent or incorrect. I do hate the way the power company cut the tree. But what would have been a better decision? Remove the tree? Cut the tree off below the wires, which could I assume would grow back up into them? We don't have telephone wires on our side of the street, thankfully. Our neighbor across the street, had them come by and trim his tree twice already. He doesn't pay much attention to things like that, per se. He left a weed sapling grow in the front and it eventually became a 25ft Maple that was too close to the wires. He has been home when they have trimmed it and was able to at least give input as they were doing it. It doesn't look that bad. The one above is horrible.

I disagree with everyone here.. TXU(Oncor) does not butcher trees. Most Foremans or Supervisors ARE Arborist and have the knowledge to cut trees properly. They do come around when thta area is Due(or someone on that circuit is having arcing or power outages due to trees. The people that plant trees in the 20FT span should know better. ANd BURIED lines--- They are going to be ripping up all your landscaping to fix it and they don't have to put it back. TXU has a lot of power and it has many laws saying what they can do. They take 10ft 4inches which BTW is the MINIMUM requirements as to not BUTCHER the tree- if you complain and fight- they take the max which is 20 ft so they don't have to deal with you again for a long long time. If you threaten verbally or physically it is automatic arrest(if the Supervisor says) Most understand and will cut come slack. And many Tree trimming companies can not trim Trees in the Power line area unless certified to do so. Many people have learn the hard way- and it cost thousands of dollars for those trimmer to trim your lines- But letting you know now- After the fight-- TXU(ONcor always wins) The law that was passed along time ago stands and gives them power to no supply your electricity if they can't trim. I have seen a multitude of lawyers loose to this law. Or TXU cut power to the house(everyone on that circuit!) and the owner can do nothing- If there are no lines-- no other electric provider can come in. Its a shame that people feel that ELECTRCITY is a RIGHT and not a privilege! Those tree trimmers work in ASURD climate and hours- and I know personally that my boyfriend(Supervisor for his crews) has worked over 30 + hours WITHOUT sleep(as well as his crews) to get trees trimmed in a STorm(ICE-Tornaodo-whatever casues trees to cause outages) TO GET peoples eletric back on-MANY times while his family is sitting at home in the dark and cold without electriciy.. You peopl do not appreciate the work these people do for you...