Trees to plant (fast growing) in Colorado

[IchWarriorMkII]

My elevation is 6,000 feet, we have fairly mild winters and summers, rarely do we see negative temps in the winter and summers over 100 degrees.


Im looking to plant some trees in my yard, mostly fast growing trees now for shade, and possibly some slower growing trees that will mature when Im old and retired :hmm3grin2orange:


Cottonwood and Willow trees (ball and weeping) are popular around here, I think Im looking for something a little different.


What kind of information does one need to pick out a tree (as far as my local climate to ensure the tree prospers)?

Or, what can you suggest off the information I have given you?

 

[forestryworks]

i'd recommend a green ash, it's pretty fast growing

or an aspen - quaking aspen to be specific

a hybrid poplar grows extremely fast (up to 5 - 8ft/yr)
however - it's weak wooded, susceptible to windthrow/snap
and ice damage

BUT, you can harvest those trees for firewood after about 5-6yrs.

i'd also recommend pin oak, shumardii red oak, or northern red oak
fast growing oaks, but strong wooded

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

Excellent, thanks for the advice.


Red Maple Shade Trees
Canadian Hemlock
Silver Maple Shade Trees
White Pine
Sugar Maple Shade Trees
Pecan Seedings
Tulip Tree
Black Walnut Tree
Weeping Willow Shade Trees
English Walnut Tree
White Dogwood Trees
Althea
Chinese Dogwood
Red Crape Myrtle
American Redbud
Burning Bush
Flowering Pear Trees
Hydrangea P.G.
American Holly
Pink Rhododendron
Colorado Blue
Spruce Tree
Pampas Grass
Scotch Pine
Purple Leaf Plum

Here is a list of "free trees" can get by purchasing other trees ( I decided on a Green Ash and Pin Oak, as well as a few Hybrid populars. What tree off this list would do suitable well?

Thanks for the help, I've been googling up a tree selector guide, but I think first hand knowledge is as good as it gets.

 

[Newt*]

IchWarriorMkII, not everything on that list is a tree, some are shrubs and others grasses. What I wouldn't plant because it's invasive.
Burning Bush
Pampas Grass

You might find these guides helpful. This first one is out from Univ of Fla so you may not find all your trees, but has lots of helpful info on mature size, leaf litter, surface roots, etc.
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/index.htm
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/pubgard.html#tree
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07421.html
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07422.html
http://orb.at.ufl.edu/TREES/index.html
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/ndhand-1.htm
http://mnpower.com/treebook/scientific.html

Newt

 

[forestryworks]

your maples, the colorado blue spruce
and the scotch (scots) pine

silver maple will be the fastest growing of the maples, i think
it gets big and bushy, so allow for at least 60-70ft of spread

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

IchWarriorMkII, not everything on that list is a tree, some are shrubs and others grasses. What I wouldn't plant because it's invasive.
Burning Bush
Pampas Grass

Burning bush is invasive?

 

[kevinj]

IchWarriorMkII, not everything on that list is a tree, some are shrubs and others grasses. What I wouldn't plant because it's invasive.
Burning Bush
Pampas Grass

Neither of these ore invasive.
There may be a few seed that drop nearby the plant that take root.
I transplant those around the back 40. But NOT invasive.
Pampas grass spreads by rhyzomes.
I've had one bunch stay within 6 feet dia. in 10 years. Whats nice about pampas is that they can be divided every couple years.
At least that is the way it is in zone 5.


I might add in some black birch (betula nigra)
Or the blue spruce.
Along with Crimson king maple. If that is tolerable in your area.

 

[Newt*]

Pampas grass:
From this USDA site:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=COSE4

U.S. Weed Information:
Cortaderia selloana (J.A. & J.H. Schultes) Aschers. & Graebn.

Uruguayan pampasgrass
pampas grass
silver pampas grass

This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of Weeds of the U.S.

"New" information on pampas grass*
http://www.hear.org/articles/loope2006/newpampasgrassinfo.htm

What is Pampas grass?
http://www.nps.gov/archive/redw/pampas.htm

As to the Burning bush aka Euonymus alatus from The Global Invasive Species Initiative:
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrteuon.html

Impacts:
This new invader is becoming increasingly common in Connecticut, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. It has been observed making dense thickets in Pennsylvania [5]. These thickets can shade out native herbs and crowd out native shrubs. Euonymus alatus also has the following characteristics:
1)E. alatus is adaptable to various environmental conditions; it grows well in different soil types and pH levels, has no serious pest problems in North America, and most importantly of all is tolerant of full shade.
2)Spectacular fall foliage makes it a popular landscape ornamental. Wide usage of this plant increases the probability that more will escape from cultivation.

Range As An Invader:
Euonymus alatus is found in the USA from New England to northern Florida and the Gulf Coast. It is hardy to USDA Zone 4. Populations have been found in mature white oak upland forest and open, second growth lowland forest. Other populations have been found dominating pastures, the understory of shady hillsides, small ravines in valley floor forests, and glacial drift hill prairies.

There's lots more info at the above site.

I realize much of this is a surprise to most folks, but there is a real threat with these species.

Newt

 

[lilac]

Pampas grass:
From this USDA site:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=COSE4



"New" information on pampas grass*
http://www.hear.org/articles/loope2006/newpampasgrassinfo.htm

What is Pampas grass?
http://www.nps.gov/archive/redw/pampas.htm

As to the Burning bush aka Euonymus alatus from The Global Invasive Species Initiative:
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/alert/alrteuon.html



There's lots more info at the above site.

I realize much of this is a surprise to most folks, but there is a real threat with these species.

Newt

How invasive a plant is also depends on where you live. I was reading about the trumpet vine being invasive in Iowa. Well, here in Denver I've got a trumpet vine. Don't know how old it is as it was here when I bought my house in 1991, but I still just have the one trumpet vine and it really hasn't spread much, just blooms beautifully every year.

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

Thanks for the help, I've been doing some reading and research.


Autumn Ridge Nursery is the online company that offers the trees, at $6 a tree, and offered the free plants if you buy X many dollars of trees.

I am now skeered to buy from them, and have moved on to Fast Growing Trees, which are roughly $30 a tree, but guaranteed to grow.


I think Ill get two hybrid poplars, and perhaps a tulip poplar and red maple for this year. I think in the next years Ill plant some slower growing, but stronger wooded trees (Ash, Maple) to better handle the wind.