Ash tree replacement

[cyinne]

I live on a farm with a lot of ash trees that are dead or in the process of dying from EAB.
This since the weather has been nice this past few weeks we are taking down about 20 trees in our grove- next year will probably be the rest from around the rest of the yard.
I was wondering what we are going to replace these trees with. I would like something that is relatively fast growing for a hardwood tree, low maintenance, and is not really “dirty” once grown.
I an 43 and would like to enjoy these new trees at some point fully grown, or is that a pipe dream?

 

[nfrine]

I live on a farm with a lot of ash trees that are dead or in the process of dying from that motherfucking EAB.
This since the weather has been nice this past few weeks we are taking down about 20 trees in our grove- next year will probably be the rest from around the rest of the yard.
I was wondering what we are going to replace these trees with. I would like something that is relatively fast growing for a hardwood tree, low maintenance, and is not really “dirty” once grown.
I an 43 and would like to enjoy these new trees at some point fully grown, or is that a pipe dream?

My dad always said the best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago, The next best time is today.

Where are you located?

 

[nfrine]

Shade Trees for Iowa

This page highlights shade tree options well-suited for the Iowa landscape. While it doesn't include every possibility, this list provides descriptions of many wonderful species and cultivars proven to be good options for many Iowa homeowners.

hortnews.extension.iastate.edu

https://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/forestry/urban/RethinkingMaple.pdf

https://secure.iowadot.gov/lrtf/docs/GuidetoCommonTreesShrubs.pdf

 

[jcf817]

I've always been partial to Hackberry trees, but I can't vouch for the speed of growth.

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

We have planted a couple Blaze Maple trees, they grow very fast, and look very nice with the red leaves in the fall. Elm trees also grow quickly.

The best time to plant trees in Iowa is during the fall, water the heck out of them and when they make it through the winter you will know that you have a keeper. We purchased all of ours online from here https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/collections/mapletrees.

 

[carvers4math]

We got the fast growing elms. They can grow three to six feet a year. All the neighbors have maples, and those whirly bird seeds were sprouting tiny trees all over our front yard one year.

 

[Agclone91]

I live on a farm with a lot of ash trees that are dead or in the process of dying from EAB.
This since the weather has been nice this past few weeks we are taking down about 20 trees in our grove- next year will probably be the rest from around the rest of the yard.
I was wondering what we are going to replace these trees with. I would like something that is relatively fast growing for a hardwood tree, low maintenance, and is not really “dirty” once grown.
I an 43 and would like to enjoy these new trees at some point fully grown, or is that a pipe dream?

The bolded part is what was so unique about Ash trees - They were an all around awesome tree. There's just not many other options out there that check all of the boxes. Damn shame what EAB has done to them.

 

[dafarmer]

Mulberry and red cedar.... just kidding. Planted a Norway maple and a crimson maple. Also, spruce seems to survive in Iowa. Planted white oak(slow) and pin oak (moderate) growth. Heard oak trees are having insect and disease issues, too.

 

[jcf817]

Please consider avoiding non-native species like Norway Maple.

 

[Stumper]

A variety. It's obvious that ash was used as a replacement when Dutch Elms disease hit in the 70's. This year, 75-80% of the tree stumps I've ground out have been ash trees. During the next tree pandemic, at least they won't lose all the trees.

 

[RLD4ISU]

IMO it's all about personal preference. Some unsolicited advice: Research each tree you're considering to learn more about size, root system, etc.

If I remember correctly, Maples have a shorter root system and the roots will gravitate toward a water source - potentially water lines, septic lines. Another rule of thumb I've always heard is that fast growing trees typically are "dirtier" than slow growing.

Fall is a great time to plant. The old saying is to plant a tree during a month that has an R in it.

 

[CyCrazy]

Oaks, maples, river birches.

 

[CyCrazy]

IMO it's all about personal preference. Some unsolicited advice: Research each tree you're considering to learn more about size, root system, etc.

If I remember correctly, Maples have a shorter root system and the roots will gravitate toward a water source - potentially water lines, septic lines. Another rule of thumb I've always heard is that fast growing trees typically are "dirtier" than slow growing.

Fall is a great time to plant. The old saying is to plant a tree during a month that has an R in it.

Any tree species can do that. Well except evergreens for the most part

 

[intrepid27]

https://jfschmidt.com/all-trees/introductions/espresso-kentucky-coffee-tree/

 

[Tri4Cy]

A variety. It's obvious that ash was used as a replacement when Dutch Elms disease hit in the 70's. This year, 75-80% of the tree stumps I've ground out have been ash trees. During the next tree pandemic, at least they won't lose all the trees.

I was just talking to my wife about this. We have an old fence line in our back yard that is, well, unkempt. I'd like to rip out the honeysuckle and save some of the natives and supplement with some conifers of some sort for privacy. She'd like to just rip it all out and plant a wall of arborvitaes. I'm a fan of diversity as I'm terrified we'll get 20 years of growth then the "next" thing comes through and kills all of the same species like what happened with ash, elm, and the pines in CO.

 

[Dirt Boy 2]

Check with your DNR forester for options other than maple. You can receive cost share replacing trees in timbers through IDALS/County SWCD offices. There is a lot of money available if you are interested in timber work.
I remember a statistic that 60 some percent of Iowa’s trees are maples. If you want to avoid a potential problem like we have with ash, might be wise to consider something other than maple. DNR has an couple good pamphlets on trees for front yards that are native options.

 

[ruflosn]

I live on a farm with a lot of ash trees that are dead or in the process of dying from EAB.
This since the weather has been nice this past few weeks we are taking down about 20 trees in our grove- next year will probably be the rest from around the rest of the yard.
I was wondering what we are going to replace these trees with. I would like something that is relatively fast growing for a hardwood tree, low maintenance, and is not really “dirty” once grown.
I an 43 and would like to enjoy these new trees at some point fully grown, or is that a pipe dream?

Can I morel hunt your land next spring?

 

[mkadl]

We got the fast growing elms. They can grow three to six feet a year. All the neighbors have maples, and those whirly bird seeds were sprouting tiny trees all over our front yard one year.

Elms, whoduh thunk it? I know of one in the town that I have lived in for 6 decades. They all died in the 60s or 70s. Weird to think about it. This town had over 300 ash tress to take down in right of ways. Crazy I have seen two tree plagues in my lifetime.

 

[NWICY]

I live on a farm with a lot of ash trees that are dead or in the process of dying from EAB.
This since the weather has been nice this past few weeks we are taking down about 20 trees in our grove- next year will probably be the rest from around the rest of the yard.
I was wondering what we are going to replace these trees with. I would like something that is relatively fast growing for a hardwood tree, low maintenance, and is not really “dirty” once grown.
I an 43 and would like to enjoy these new trees at some point fully grown, or is that a pipe dream?

Check with ISU extension forestry. They can help and also point you in the right direction for wind break funding if you're interested in that.

 

[2122]

You might consider tulip tree (liriodendron tulipfera). I have some growing here in So. Minn. even though they are only marginally hardy here. Wonderful species. Grows fast like a cottonwood, even faster. Gorgeous. Flowering. Wonderful scent. Doesn't have issue with roots in lawn like a cottonwood. You can buy seedlings online, no prob.

Hackberry is reliable, fairly fast growing.

Sycamore is fast growing, fairly messy.

European larch. Mine is growing pretty fast. Farmers used to plant them in their groves.

Northern red oak and Eastern White Oak are growing pretty fast for me too, for oaks.

I think black locust is gorgeous. Grows pretty fast. Young branches are thorny.

Kentucky coffeetree is a great native yard tree, grows fairly fast, bit messy with large double-compound leaves and seed pods.

Hickories generally slow, but I have a shellbark hickory that grew 4' this year......