16 Yard Trees That Can Ruin Your Property

Did you know that there are more than 3 trillion trees in the world? With more than 3 trillion trees, there is a vast variety of species, but some you’ll want to avoid in your yard.

In this article, you’ll find out what yard trees you’ll want to avoid for reasons such as high-maintenance, falling during storms, or poisons. Read on to discover why it matters what trees you plant near your home before it’s too late.

16 Yard Trees That Can Ruin Your Property

1. Silver Maple

While the Silver Maple is native to the U.S., its roots tend to spread fast and shallow, attacking your lawn. These roots can burst underground pipes. On a windy day, the wind can break the tree’s weak branches or knock down the trunk.

If you must have this tree, your best bet is to plant it downhill or far from your home to avoid falling.  Keep it away from grass as well, unless you have specialized lawn mower blades that can handle debris.

2. Bradford Pear

Although beautiful in the spring, their blossoms produce a rotting fish odor that humans hate but flies love. While this only lasts a couple of weeks, if you have a sensitive nose you might want to pick a different tree.

3. Cottonwood

While Cottonwoods are beautiful and low-maintenance, they have a soft and shallow root system. A cottonwood’s wood is susceptible to rotting so it’s unstable during a storm.

The last thing you’ll want is a Cottonwood falling on your home and causing damage. It’s also prone to diseases and insects. Check out this tree service for taking down problem trees in your yard.

4. Mimosa Tree

The Mimosa Tree has very weak wood so unfortunately, it’s not a very reliable tree. It’s also known to attract webworms, and it produces large seeds that germinate fast. This means you’ll have many mimosa trees in your yard before you know it.

5. Southern Magnolia

Magnolias are gorgeous but high-maintenance. They grow too large for most yards and their leaves drop year-round. Leaves dropping year-round means more work for you

cleaning up the leaves. Since magnolias have crowded under-soil space the roots take up, it’s hard for any other plants to grow near it.

6. Sweet Gum

Sweet Gum is beautiful, especially during the fall but it’s known for its seeds. The seeds make it nearly impossible to walk in your yard barefoot since they have sharp and spiny exteriors. Their surface roots can cause disruption across your lawn as well.

7. Mulberry Tree

The reason you won’t want to plant the Mulberry Tree is that it produces so much pollen. All of this pollen attracts many insects including silkworms. While great for shade in the summer, you won’t want all of those insects near your home.

8. Black Walnut

While Black Walnut trees have beautiful wood and delicious nuts, you don’t want these in your yard. They actually release what’s called juglone, which is a chemical that’s toxic for plants and steals their nutrients. Forget about having a vegetable garden near it.

In the fall, yard cleanup will take a while thanks to walnuts scattered all over your lawn. Rake up leaves fast since it’ll kill your lawn. The nuts’ green husks can also stain clothes as well so be careful about what you wear.

9. Ginkgo

Female Ginkgo trees produce a stinky fruit that you won’t want to smell. The stinky fruit then drops to the ground and will stick to the bottom of your shoes if stepped on. If you must have the Ginkgo tree, opt for the male.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell the sexes apart of the trees when they’re young.

10. Norway Maple

The Norway Maple is extremely versatile and offers great shade, but it kills anything that tries to grow around it. The roots of the Norway Maple absorb all the nutrients from the soil, and the shade blocks any plants from getting sunlight.

11. Empress Tree

While beautiful and grows to a reasonable height, it’s weak so it doesn’t fare well in storms. You’ll want to think hard about planting it with storms.

12. Lombardy Poplar

The Lombardy Poplar was once extremely popular because of its shape and quick growth. They have numerous diseases and bugs that hurt them, and their root systems are difficult to control.

13. Sycamore

Sycamores are known for making messes. Leaves and bark drop along with large seedpods littering the ground. If your goal is to have a clean yard, the Sycamore isn’t for you. It’ll fill your gutters, yard, and driveway with leaves. They grow quickly and have forceful roots.

14. Russian Olive

The Russian Olive has a unique look but it’s one of the most invasive species. It actually crowds out any nearby plants and steals all their nutrients and water.

15. White Birch

While the White Birch is majestic and beautiful, if you live in a hot and dry climate it won’t do well. It can also get a tree killer which is known as the bronze birch borer.

It has shallow roots so it’s dangerous and unstable around your home.

16. Leyland Cypress

The Leyland Cypress is a unique tree since it grows quickly and is low-maintenance. However, this tree’s roots get uprooted during storms and wind, so they’re dangerous around homes, even if they’re older.

Avoiding Yard Trees That Will Ruin Your Yard

After reading this list about yard trees, you should now be prepared in knowing which trees to not plant. After reading this list about yard trees, you should now be prepared in knowing which trees to not plant, and even which ones you might want to chop down with a chainsaw. While some trees can be absolutely gorgeous, it’s not worth it having to deal with the cleanup from them, like Black Walnut trees for example.

Would you like to learn more about tree care? Check out tree care professionals in Madera.