The tree is messy. Most everyone expects to rake up leaves from a deciduous tree, but you might be surprised by fruit, berries, or seed pods that make a huge mess of your yard each year. The tree is weak and prone to damage. Some trees are brittle by nature and very susceptible to wind damage or injury from heavy snow and ice. Ash trees, as well as now being susceptible to emerald ash borer, are notoriously brittle and prone to damage. The tree is susceptible to pests and diseases. It can come as a great surprise when that disease or pest problem that lurked 1,000 miles away suddenly reaches your region, just as your tree is beginning to look good. The species drops a lot of pollen. Pollen production from certain trees can make life pretty miserable for sensitive individuals during the spring flowering season. The tree has roots with water-seeking tendencies that threaten water mains or septic tanks. Some trees are much worse than others at seeking out water wherever it is—including your underground water and sewer lines. The tree is highly invasive, crowding out native species while not benefitting wildlife. The dense shade of the tree may make it impossible to grow grass or other plants. It should come without saying that trees cast shade, but the degree of dense shade can surprise you if you’ve planted a large-leaved specimen, such as catalpa. Some trees affect the soil in a manner that makes other plants suffer. Pine trees of all kinds will drop needles that could change the pH of the surrounding soil if additional certain conditions are met. And black walnut actually puts a toxin in the ground that kills many other plants.
Think hard about these nine landscape trees before planting them on your property. Some people are so fond of the shape and appearance of oaks that they are willing to tolerate the messiness. But if these habits seriously bother you, you’ll have to look for another tree species entirely, since all the oaks produce acorns and flower catkins of some type. A good alternative tree that has roughly the same shape and shade-producing habit is the linden tree or one of several maples. But the sticky pitch dropped by eastern white pine puts it in the running as one of the messiest of all trees. The pitch is incredibly sticky and can stain car surfaces and clothing in a way that is quite hard (sometimes impossible) to remove. But what if you really want to grow a pine? For small yards, you will be much happier with the dwarf Japanese white pine. Using the common name, “maidenhair trees” will help you remember an important fact: It is specifically the female that is messy. Male trees do not shed the fleshy, stinky golden balls (shown in the picture) that bring Ginkgo biloba into this discussion of messy trees. The male gingko tree can be distinguished by the small cone-like structure that appears at the point where flowers develop, just above the leaves. These cones are evident even on very young trees available for sale in pots at the garden center. Good garden centers may not even carry the female trees in their stock. The ginkgo has much to recommend it, including resistance to pests, diseases, and urban pollution, so its recommended that you go ahead and plant it—just avoid the female plants. But take heart: Horticulturalists have developed seedless versions of this tree. The variety of sweetgum shown in the photo, namely, the ‘Rotundiloba’ cultivar, does not produce gumballs, making it a clean substitute. But their orchid-like flowers are lovely. If you must have them (but want a cleaner specimen), turn to a cultivar of the southern catalpa: Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana.’ Whenever you see the cultivar name, ‘Nana,’ you know you’re dealing with a dwarf. This tree stands 10 to 12 feet high, with a slightly greater spread. It is recommended for hardiness zones 5 to 9, as is its golden-leafed version, Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea Nana.’ This tree can be quite beautiful for the multitude of white flowers it produces in spring and the gorgeous fall foliage it achieves in fall. But the flowers smell unappealingly fishy, and should a particularly harsh winter come along to dump heavy snow and ice on the branches, two or three major branches can easily break off, disfiguring your beautiful tree forever. However, the real reason to avoid this tree is its highly invasive tendency. If you want the beauty of an ornamental pear without having to undergo such heartbreak, grow a Pyrus calleryana ‘Autumn Blaze,’ instead. It serves as one of the best alternatives to Bradford pear. Research the best alternatives to grow over septic systems, such as:
Dogwood trees Japanese maple Eastern redbud Cherry trees
