split tree Question

D

dociledragons

Location
UTAH
As you can see This 3 foot tree has sprouted in two directions. Should I cut one stock off or let it grow the way it is? Also, any idea what it is?




 
Looks like a boxelder tree ( I don't know proper names and sometimes only regional nicknames but), boxelder should be cut down at a height the lawnmower will keep them from growing. Here boxelders commonly get boxelder beetles - black and red 1/2" long - they are attracted to light colors - houses and cars for instance. Soap water seems to be the recommended cure for them. Similar in our area to Chinese elm, cottonwood (type of popular) and alanthis (tree of heaven). Sorry not to have proper names but it's something I've had on my schedule to get to know a long time.
 
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If I decide to keep it should I cut the one limb off at the base? Yes, what is so bad about having one?. Besides they can sprout out of controll. the pictures look like a nice fast growing full tree.
 
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Yes it is a box elder. Prune the whole thing at the dirt. To me it is a weed. They "piss" fluid on every thing below, grow like a weed, and attract the box elder beetle by the hundreds. Very messy and week deciduous tree. Lowest heat rating in BTU for firewood there is. A mature cut down tree will sprout suckers out of the stump and multiply. Not native to North America. I believe it was originally imported from Europe decades ago.
 
dociledragons said:
If I decide to keep it should I cut the one limb off at the base? Yes, what is so bad about having one?. Besides they can sprout out of controll. the pictures look like a nice fast growing full tree.
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If you are going to keep it, then I would suggest pruning off the right hand stem. There are plenty of other tree species you could plant though.
 
What a sad commentary on the state of the industry.

Dociledragons ignore the chainsaw wielding fools. Manitoba Maple (syn. box elder, ash-leaf maple, Acer negundo) is a perfectly fine tree when it is cared for. Trim off the right side of yours and you will be fine for a few years. The tree will grow perhaps as much as 5 or 6 feet a year, what a great tree after five years, not many others can do that.

As for origins, it is a North American native, a quick google search shows that. From Wikipedia....

"Acer negundo is often discussed as comprising three subspecies, each of which was originally described as a separate species. These are:

  • A. negundo subsp. negundo is the main variety and the type to which characteristics described in the article most universally apply. Its natural range is from the Atlantic Coast to the Rocky Mountains.[10]
  • A. negundo subsp. interius has more leaf serration than the main species and a more matte leaf surface. As the name interusindicates, its natural range of Saskatchewan to New Mexico is sandwiched between that of the other two subspecies.[10]
  • A. negundo subsp. californicum has larger leaves than the main species. Leaves also have a velvety texture which is essential to distinguish it from A. negundo subsp. negundo. It is found in parts of California and Arizona.[10]"
 
Dociledragons, A.Negundo has a very high propensity for seeding in gardens and throughout your yard. It's not uncommon to see a back yard with one mature tree and an innumerable amount of seedlings throughout the property. There are many other options for a landscape tree, I would never suggest a client keep one because of 1)High maintenance cost. 2)Prone to wind and ice damage. 3) Short life span. Just some of the many reasons to select another species. Especially since this one is so small and you have not committed to it already.
 
Drewtree do you have any experience other than cutting?

Dociledragon has a tree that (s)he is interested in and therefore can make the decision if he or she wants one or twenty.

Oh and by the way what is a short life span? 40 to 60 years, likely long enough to out survive the poster.
 
mrtree said:
Drewtree do you have any experience other than cutting?

Dociledragon has a tree that (s)he is interested in and therefore can make the decision if he or she wants one or twenty.

Oh and by the way what is a short life span? 40 to 60 years, likely long enough to out survive the poster.
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You've got it out for me don't you! That's okay. I feel like I gave a very informative response the second time around, I admit I can be a bit harsh when it comes to some of the less desirable species I deal with often. I'm not ordering them to remove it, just my suggestion. There are many other more desirable and low maintenance landscape trees available.
 
Perhaps you need to realize that your chainsaw centric view of trees is not appropriate in all cases. For many people any tree is appreciated, for any number of reasons.
 
mrtree said:
Perhaps you need to realize that your chainsaw centric view of trees is not appropriate in all cases. For many people any tree is appreciated, for any number of reasons.
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Trying to save a homeowner potential headaches and cost incurred for maintenance is hardly chainsaw centric. Besides, I'd never use a chainsaw on a tree that small! :loco:
 
This is just plain sad. If you were to get rid of all the Manitoba Maple, Tree-of-Heaven, Ash, Elm, Crabapple, Mulberry, Norway Maple, Honeylocust and other high-maintenance trees there would not be much left in many towns and cities north of Boston. Perhaps you are of the fantasy that native trees are somehow better, well find some native soil in your city and then you can have only native trees.
 
mrtree said:
This is just plain sad. If you were to get rid of all the Manitoba Maple, Tree-of-Heaven, Ash, Elm, Crabapple, Mulberry, Norway Maple, Honeylocust and other high-maintenance trees there would not be much left in many towns and cities north of Boston. Perhaps you are of the fantasy that native trees are somehow better, well find some native soil in your city and then you can have only native trees.
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Who said anything about me favoring Native trees? Or getting rid of everything else? Stay on the mark please. After venting my useless frustration about the species I simply suggested considering alternatives for landscape, of which there are countless.
 
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