Problems, Insects, Diseases and Shortcomings

So now you say, just give me a list of the trees and shrubs that do not have any problems with insects and diseases and will be perfect in any location so you can skip this page and section. This is the short list:

1.      BE NO!

That is not the name of a tree. There are no trees or shrubs that do not have a shortcoming of one sort or another. Check the three sections that follow for the most common. These pages do not describe all the problems that exist only the most common.

Nominate your perfect tree or shrub in a following section.

The criteria for every tree or shrub depends on where you want to place it. For example, if you attempt to place a tree that will grow large next to your house or any structure the future safety of the structure may be in jeopardy. Trees grow from the top terminal bud and each year expand out in diameter. If you grow a tree too near any structure the tree will push against the outside wall of the structure, the roots may also push against the foundation and at the end of its life … where will it fall?

Experienced homeowners know their trees and shrubs will have insects and diseases as will all their other plants. Some are even susceptible to multiple aggressors. There is another category that homeowners may not notice until too late – shortcomings due to genetics.

Genetics Determines The Problems

Genetics determine the characteristics for each living thing including the trees, shrubs and plants in your yard. So plan your landscaping to balance their fully-grown size, seasonal colors, and their genetic imperfections around your structures and any existing plant life.

As you research through the different shortcomings to determine which ones are acceptable, you will need to know all the characteristics for you to choose. This is easy on-line or from textbooks but you still need to identify the existing ones in your yard or in the nursery.

What Could Be Sooo Bad?

Well, you know about the first law of tree physics, now for some additional worries when planning. You may want to plant trees first since they take decades to grow to maturity. These are a few things to consider:

• How tall will it grow?
• How susceptible is it to insects and diseases?
• How far do the branches extend from the trunk?
• Will it provide the shade you want?
• Will the roots be invasive?
• Will it survive in the sun/shade/soil where you want to plant it?
• Will its flowers aggravate allergies?
• Will the fruit/seeds/berries be a nuisance/hazard to you or neighbors?
• Will the slow/fast rate of growth be a nuisance?
• What do you know about sun scald?

This section explains why each of these problems could be catastrophic for you.

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