Right Tree, Right Place - Wrong Message

The right tree in the right place, a popular tag line used by arborists worldwide is creating a new problem for the long term future of trees. Originally meant to solve issues with large trees planted in small or restricted sites, resulting in harsh pruning or heaving sidewalks, this message has the unintended result of reducing the number of large maturing trees currently existing and being planted.
Most of the trees being planted now along our city streets are at best medium sized trees if not smaller. Species like flower pear, cherry and small maples predominate. Nurseries also promote small trees over large, relegating trees like Oak, Elm and Beech as too big for our small yards.
Conversely, these small trees are more invasive in our yards as their canopies occupy the same space that we walk, play and live in.
Rather than the the right tree in the right place, I say simply, Plant More Trees.

The Bigleaf Maple – a Northwest Icon

The bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum, is the largest of all of the world’s maples. It has the largest leaf, seed, and trunk of any of the maple species. The largest is in Oregon with a trunk diameter of about twelve feet. This maple produces edible flowers each April through May. Scientists studying the moss mats of forest grown bigleaf maple trees have discovered adventitious root growth occurring in the upper canopy of trees, in order to take advantage of arboreal soils. Planted within twenty feet of a house facing south, this large maturing tree will protect the roof and siding from the blistering effects of summer sun, while allowing for winter solar heating. Periodic pruning will keep large dead material from collecting in the canopy and enhance the natural beauty of one of the northwest’s amazing native trees.