Help with tree replacement?
 

Last fall the township widened the road and sidewalks in conjunction with a sewer and water main upgrade.
Now they are offering a choice of replacement trees for the ones that they had to remove.
I had a 53 yr old Sycamore that was pretty messy, but lasted through numerous nor'easters, hurricanes, superstorms, and micro tornados.

Anywho, my choices are:
Redspire Pear,
Northern Red Oak,
October Glory Red Maple.
and White Pine.

The white pine choice is off the table for me, as most of them that were planted by the original owners back in 1964 got destroyed during Sandy. (It was the notorious white pine that was responsible for 85% of the home damages when the monster limbs broke off and went flying.)

Trees at being offered in a 4-5" trunk caliper, except for the pine which is offered in the 5-6 ft range.

Thanks in advance.
Bill K

My choice would be the Pear tree. http://www.thetreefarm.com/pear-redspire-flowering

Oak or maple.

Between the two, which one has a deeper root system?

Just got off the phone with my buddy who owns a tree farm in PA. He said the pears are going through 'Fireblight' issues right now (that's a fungus) so he'd pick the Maple or Oak. Both have red color in the winter and the Oak is a bigger tree, so maybe decide between those two based on size.

That's all I have.....good luck!

The red maple is going to be the faster grower and the fall colors are typically breathtaking. That would be my choich.

I'd pick the maple. Nothing wrong with red oak either, but at least around here, they can rot/die at their core after decades...largest I've lost was close to two hundred years old. I've had great success with maples...beautiful fall colors.

This. Oak would be a close second, only because slower growing. Typically.

Red Oak:

http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info...-rubra-017.jpg


Oct. Glory Red Maple:

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...pg?format=750w

Maybe the northern species are different, but all of my maples and red oaks lose their leaves in the fall....barren in winter. White oaks (very slow growing) keep their leaves until spring.

That's a little red oak :)...I'm used to 'em being several feet in diameter...

I've seen too many "half-pruned-trees" planted next to the road, which never look right.

What about something smaller like a japanese maple?
They still can get a bit big.
https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=866
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1490409339.jpg

Good point...I've planted a few maples over the years...there are lots of hybrids that one can know approx. how tall and wide they will eventually be when mature (say 30' x 25'). Oaks just keep on keeping on...at least the three I'm most familar with...red, white, and willow (planted several)...they're better in larger areas imo or you will eventually face this issue.

Once again, here are my choices from the township:
Redspire Pear,
Northern Red Oak,
October Glory Red Maple.
and White Pine.

A930Rocket:Between the two, which one has a deeper root system?
Doesn't the oak have a tap root that goes straight down?

Thanks for the replies.

Bill K

It is what I picked, fast grower too.

Oaks grow a deep tap root and become quite drought resistant. Acorns will eventually be a fall problem and draw squirrels and deer. Maples drop 'helicopters in the fall but also make a mess in the spring when they drop tiny husks after budding out. Both look terrific but the oak will be longer lived if left to grow.

Oaks will begin to shed their lower branches as they mature. Depending on their growth rate (i.e., nutrition, light, soil and water) after 30 years or so you'll be lopping off the lower branches that are 6-8" in diameter. That process never stops.

Oaks can be messy, too. Oak wilt is destroying the oaks around here.

I have several red maples on my farm and love them. They have spectacular color in the autumn, have a nice shape without pruning, and only shed small sticks in a wind storm....they are pretty strong, and like it was mentioned before, will grow quicker, and get big faster than oak.