5 Trees to Avoid Planting
1. BLACK WALNUT
Black walnuts are often grown for their shade and edible nuts, but their buds, roots and nut hulls release significant levels of juglone, a chemical that robs sensitive plants of needed energy. Nearby garden vegetables could especially suffer.
2. BRADFORD PEAR
This tree grows extremely fast, but can be sensitive to leaf scorch, fire blight and branch splitting. It’s not uncommon for these top-heavy trees to split in half, especially during severe weather.
3. ASH
The Emerald Ash Borer, a beetle native to East Asia, threatens more than 8 billion Ash trees in the United States, where they’ve often been planted in residential settings due to their resistance to severe weather, disease and pests.
4. GINKGO
Female varieties of this popular tree, known for its durability, also produce a putrid-smelling “fruit” that stinks to your shoes and can get tracked indoors.
5. SWEETGUM
While it can be rather beautiful, the tree’s spiny brown balls come down by the thousand. You can slip and land on them as they roll. They also don’t rake up easily, so you’ll have to pick them up by hand. Not a fun weekend!