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GLT's Grow: Finding The Right Tree

Guillaume Speurt
/
Flickr via Creative Commons
The bald cypress is a diciduous conifer that is appealing in the landscape.

Farewell, Autumn Purple Ash Tree. Hello, bald cypress. Maybe!

  • Ann in Bloomington, Illinois, has a Purple Ash that's on it's last legs ... or roots, if you will. So she's thinking of replacing it. And her next-door neighbor has a stake in this, too, since the tree will shade both their properties. Can Patrick Murphy help two neighbors find the perfect tree?
  • Ann is interested in a tree that is hard, not overly subject to pest damage and is attractive. Her pick is a bald cypress.
  • Where you plant a tree will determine if it is a good choice for your yard. The bald cypress is a native plant, making it hardy and a good choice. But it tends to spread it branches A LOT, up to 120 feet in a lifetime. Since Ann will be sharing the tree with her neighbor, that might be fine. But if you have a neighbor who doesn't appreciate tree encroachment or you live on a small lot, the bald cypress might not work. A bald cypress would need to be planted 60 feet away from a building to get the space it needs.
  • Plant a tree where it will look good down the road, not where it looks good the day you bring it home.
  • Why limit yourself to one tree? Go for diversity, which can protect your landscape against  diseases that target only certain trees.
  • White Fir goes well with bald cypress. Ponderosa pine is a good choice, too. Burr Oaks, swamp white oaks and black gum are also trees to consider, according to Patrick Murphy.

GLT's Grow is your source for sage gardening advice and down-to-earth tips. Host Patrick Murphy and co-host Laura Kennedy are ready to take on all your gardening questions, so submit yours today.

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Reporter, content producer and former All Things Considered host, Laura Kennedy is a native of the Midwest who occasionally affects an English accent just for the heck of it. Related to two U.S. presidents, Kennedy appalled her family by going into show business.