Buying and planting tree trees in Denver

[Inukshuk]

Anyone have any experiences to share about buying and planting trees in Denver in the metro area?

Have to take out a big mature maple from my front yard today and I’d like to replace it and maybe add a couple of more.

No idea how long I’ll be in the house so I’m willing to buy something more than a tiny sapling. Objectives are shade and I know that apple and peach trees do really well in this neighborhood so maybe fruit.

 

[nakman]

My only opinion to offer is I can't say enough bad things about my apple trees in the back yard. The shade & privacy are great, it's kinda fun to climb in, the blossoms are pretty... but dang it those apples are just disgusting. They're too sour most of the year to eat, ok to eat when they ripen in September but 3 days later the bees invest them and you can't find any good ones to eat any more. And then they drop on the ground and get all squishy and stinky... if you step on one it's slippery like a rotten tomatoe. Picking them up is like picking up messy dog poop, if you wait more than a week it's a big chore and you can't even lift the trashcan. So it's an every day task from August through November trying to stay on top of it. I've tried giving them away, tried convincing someone to make pies or moonshine or something, but alas I still just find myself picking up apples a lot. I do like not seeing the backyard neighbors for half the year though.

 

[Inukshuk]

To be clear, you are not a fan of apple trees?

I don't love apples myself. I do like peaches.

 

[HDavis]

To be clear, you are not a fan of apple trees?

I don't love apples myself. I do like peaches.

We love our peach tree. Our plums do even better than the peach and our Hollywood plum tree is just a pretty tree to look at in general. None will be as big as that maple though.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

My only opinion to offer is I can't say enough bad things about my apple trees in the back yard. The shade & privacy are great, it's kinda fun to climb in, the blossoms are pretty... but dang it those apples are just disgusting. They're too sour most of the year to eat, ok to eat when they ripen in September but 3 days later the bees invest them and you can't find any good ones to eat any more. And then they drop on the ground and get all squishy and stinky... if you step on one it's slippery like a rotten tomatoe. Picking them up is like picking up messy dog poop, if you wait more than a week it's a big chore and you can't even lift the trashcan. So it's an every day task from August through November trying to stay on top of it. I've tried giving them away, tried convincing someone to make pies or moonshine or something, but alas I still just find myself picking up apples a lot. I do like not seeing the backyard neighbors for half the year though.

@NotyourmomsWife makes an amazing apple pie! We’re always looking for apples in the fall. Let me know when to come over get some. I’m sure Lisa will even bake you a pie or 4…. Or even more.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

Peaches come in a can, put there by a man.

 

[Hulk]

Just don't expect to plant your new tree in the exact same spot as your old tree. Even if they ground out the stump, there are still a ton of roots underground surrounding the old location. We cut down a huge cottonwood tree 20 years ago and planted a maple in a spot 4 feet from the original cottonwood location. We had mushrooms in the yard for years where the old cottonwood roots slowly rotted underground.

 

[MDH33]

If you like smaller flowering trees, there are a lot of crabapple varieties that produce very small, berry sized fruit that won't make a mess. The birds and squirrels do a great job cleaning them off. Sugertyme, prarie fire, royal raindrops, are some varieties i'd recommend. I planted sugertyme as i like the white flowers, green leaves and bright red fruit which hang on through winter.

If youre looking for bigger, faster growing shade trees, then probably go with a maple. Tons of varieties available with great fall color and stronger than silver maple. I also like honey locust, smaller leaves that blow away in the fall, not much cleanup. Look for a cultivar that doesnt produce the seed pods.

I recently planted a tupelo, which doesnt get huge, but also has great fall color and nice branching shape.

 

[Crash]

I believe Silver Maple aren’t allowed in Denver. The Norway Maples we got from the city are also known as Brittle Maple. They have worked fine as shade trees but they do shed lots of little branches after high winds or snows. Kinda messy.