planting aspen trees

Plant the trees in moist, well-drained soil. The soil should be slightly acidic for the tree to thrive. Plant aspens on northern or eastern slopes, or northern or eastern sides of your house, rather than sunnier areas. They cannot tolerate drought or hot, dry soil.

When should you plant aspen trees?

When to Plant Aspen Saplings

The best time is spring, after the chance of frost is passed. If you live in a warm area in a hardiness zone higher than zone 7, you should transplant aspens in early spring.

Where do aspen trees grow best?

Quaking aspens are the most widely distributed tree species in North America. They grow in Alaska and Canada, all the way south to Mexico. They withstand such a wide range of climatic conditions by growing at lower altitudes in the north and higher altitudes in the south.

Should I plant aspen trees in my yard?

Aspen. Quaking aspen trees have showy autumn foliage and attractive bark for winter landscapes. A single tree can spawn an entire grove with its weedy suckers, making it a potential maintenance nightmare if it's planted in a small yard or too close to neighboring properties.

Do aspen trees have invasive roots?

Growing up to 50 feet tall with a 25 foot spread, Aspen trees produce root systems that grow well past their drip lines in search of nutrients, oxygen and moisture. As a result, your nearby garden may have small sprouts emerging from the soil. ... Discard the suckers far away from your garden.

What is the lifespan of an aspen tree?

Aspen trees usually do not live more than 150 years, though they may persist more than 200 years. It grows on many soil types, especially sandy and gravelly slopes, and is quick to pioneer disturbed sites where there is bare soil. It grows best where soils are moist and sunshine is plentiful.

Do aspen trees need lots of water?

Aspen trees need plenty of water during the first few weeks following planting. One trick to guarantee enough water during the first six weeks is to lay a soaker hose under the mulch. After the first six weeks, make sure that you let the soil dry before you water the tree again.

Why do aspen trees die?

The die-offs are seen most dramatically at lower elevations where drought and hotter temperatures are killing older trees. ... “As you get hot dry conditions, taller aspen trees have to pull water up from the soil more strongly and it creates bubbles in the water and blocks the transport of water and nutrients up the tree.

Do quaking aspen trees spread?

The quaking aspen grows to a height of 40–50' and a spread of 20–30' at maturity.

What eats aspen trees?

Aspen is especially susceptible to gnawing or stripping of its bark by several species of mammals, such as elk, deer, rabbits, hares, mice, voles, and porcupines. Aspen buds are an important winter food source for wildlife. Aspen seedlings and saplings may also be trampled by livestock and large ungulates.

What are the worst trees to plant?

Trees known for their rather undesirable qualities, and why you should steer clear of them.

Cottonwood. One of the trees you should avoid having in your backyard is certainly cottonwood. ...
Bradford Pear. ...
Mimosa Tree. ...
Mulberry Tree. ...
Chinese Tallow. ...
Norway Maple. ...
Eucalyptus. ...
Quaking Aspen.

Are Quaking Aspen good trees?

Quaking aspens grow natively in many areas of the country, namely in the Rocky Mountain area. They grow very quickly, provide a wonderful finishing touch to a suburban yard, and quiver delightfully in the breeze. ... As other trees grow taller around them, the aspen clones will likely die out.

What is the best fertilizer for aspen trees?

You can use regular water-soluble plant fertilizers for your aspen and other deciduous trees and shrubs. Miracle-Gro is a popular choice, but you can also choose an organic fertilizer, like one from Age-Old Organics.

Do aspen trees damage foundations?

Fortunately, aspens do not usually grow large enough to damage foundations or cement, due to their short lifespan. ... However, it is still susceptible to pests and diseases like the native aspen and can decline rather quickly.

Are aspen trees bad?

However, aspen is a paradox – a beautiful mountain tree that makes a poor landscape tree. Aspens can be useful ornamental plants in some situations. ... These harsh conditions are bad for aspens by themselves, but they also increase aspen's susceptibility to insect and disease attack that can quickly harm or kill them.

How close can I plant quaking aspen?

Plant them in a tight clump, or at spacing as far apart as eight or ten feet. Many people like the "clump of 3", but larger thickets and single plantings can work equally well. How to grow these. Simply stated, these grow best in moist well-drained fertile soils with full sun.

Are aspen and poplar the same tree?

Members of this group of trees may be called cottonwoods, poplars, or aspens, depending on what species they are. None-the-less, they are all members of the same genus, Populus.

How much water does an aspen tree need?

Water aspen weekly in summer with irrigation that's slow enough to sink deep into the soil. In dry winters, water once per month on days when temperatures are warmer than 45 degrees and there's no snow on the ground.

What does the Aspen tree symbolize?

The Aspen tree, also known as the Goddess Tree, is aligned with the planet Mercury, and symbolizes protection and the process of overcoming our fears; which is a part of our ascension process. This magical tree brings messages to the sage, making it a fabulous tool for transformation.

Can you cut the top off an aspen tree?

Never pinch the topmost branches of an aspen. Topping, tipping or shearing an aspen tree creates an unnatural shape and may cause diseases later in the aspen's life.

Are Quaking Aspen invasive?

One of the key characteristics of quaking aspen's growth habit is how the tree propagates. ... This means the large stands of aspens on the side of a mountain are considered one single organism. It's the root sprouts that make quaking aspen a nuisance tree when grown in your yard.

What is the white powder on Aspen trees?

The dead cells persist on the thin Aspen bark as a white powder which, under a microscope, looks like a form of snow known as grapple (graupel).