My Oak Croaked . . .

October 29, 2010 9:38 AM

Help choosing a zone 7 sidewalk/causeway tree?

We just had to have a dead Oak taken down and the landscape looks much worse for it. I'd like to replace it with a similar tree but the Oaks in the area are all doing very poorly so I'm hesitant. It cannot be a large canopy tree due to proximity to a nearby Maple and it's corner location (street hangover would be an issue). Utilities are underground so there are no aerial line considerations. While we're close to / part of the Pine Barrens, I don't think we have sandy or 'downer' soil (Marlton, NJ)

Any recommendations on an 'oval shaped' tree appropriate for a ~3 ft causeway in Southern New Jersey?. Bonus points if it's some species of super-hardy Oak!

posted by datacenter refugee to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know anything much about where you live or if this is the sort of thing you are looking for, but we planted a Tilia cordata and it's such an attractive tree I wonder why I don't understand why it isn't more widely planted. There's also a Tilia cordata greenspire, which I believe is more uniform and used for street trees.
posted by lucien at 7:19 PM on October 29, 2010

Best answer: Here are some zone 7 trees that are tough, beautiful, and easy to care for. I have experience growing them in zone 5 with success. Here's to hoping they'll fit your site criteria.

Eastern Redbud
European Hornbeam 'fastigiata'
Sassafras - deer REALLY like this, heads up.
Flowering Pear - really common but great street tree, intense white flowers in spring.
Bur Oak - easy to establish, almost a weed, long lived, frellin' huge
posted by greenskpr at 3:49 AM on November 4, 2010