Nominating Worst tree

[Busted_Knuckles]

but Mulberry weeds trees are the worst. The fruit does not taste good, fruit stains anything it falls on, and they grow like weeds, they are only good for chainsaw practice.

We have them, all over they also fall down easy. Oddly, I dated a girl that absolutely loved eating the fruit, shed put down tarps and shake the trees. To each their own.

Heres the kicker, Mulberry is on the bottom of the top tier of firewood for BTU output. Which is odd, because I always thought fast growing trees, had low output ( weeds ). I heat with wood, but have never tried burning Mulberry, but I do have one that is seasoning right now and I have another that is on the ground from a storm this year, its still alive, but will get cut up and stacked this fall.

But yeah, never met a mulberry that I didnt take a saw too.,.. just right now, got more standing dead ashes, that keep me from dropping mulberrys, but their day is coming.

 

[DGersic]

We have them, all over they also fall down easy. Oddly, I dated a girl that absolutely loved eating the fruit, shed put down tarps and shake the trees. To each their own.

Heres the kicker, Mulberry is on the bottom of the top tier of firewood for BTU output. Which is odd, because I always thought fast growing trees, had low output ( weeds ). I heat with wood, but have never tried burning Mulberry, but I do have one that is seasoning right now and I have another that is on the ground from a storm this year, its still alive, but will get cut up and stacked this fall.

But yeah, never met a mulberry that I didnt take a saw too.,.. just right now, got more standing dead ashes, that keep me from dropping mulberrys, but their day is coming.

There are a couple of mulberries in the park behind my parents house. They were big enough to climb when I was a kid, around 1975-1980 or so. Still standing. Even survived the tornado that went through the park and blew apart our clubhouse built from scrap lumber and bent nails scavenged from the house construction on the other side of the park. Same tornado lifted a neighbors shed and dropped it upside down a half mile away.

 

[Nick Danger]

We have male mulberries in our yard. There are no fruit, but the pollen output is unreal. Otherwise, I like it. It's a large, fast growing shade tree that survives in this climate.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

There are a couple of mulberries in the park behind my parents house. They were big enough to climb when I was a kid, around 1975-1980 or so. Still standing. Even survived the tornado that went through the park and blew apart our clubhouse built from scrap lumber and bent nails scavenged from the house construction on the other side of the park. Same tornado lifted a neighbors shed and dropped it upside down a half mile away.

Interesting, around here as they come out of the ground, they usually make many splits, and that is where they fail, maybe its not so much the tree, but just that it goes in 3 or more directions, they get big and split ? We have mostly nice hardwoods here, so the mulberry really stands out.

Its not so much how I feel about it, but growing up around here, most folks would drop them, because nasty bird poop you get all over your property from the berries.

 

[knotdust]

Black walnut grow only in the eastern US. If not in a line fence they are marketable for timber. The walnuts when the drop in the fall are a nice little cash crop if you have a hulling station in reasonable distance. You need to find someone that has some trees that they want cleaned up and have the time to go around every week to pick them up. They hulling station runs them through the huller, pays you cash and disposes of the hulls. I have one about 20 miles from me. They pay by the pound hulled and I had between 300-500 # hulled last year. Nice little extra income for a retired individual. It isn't a huge income but every little bit helps. If I would have to drive 50 miles it wouldn't be worth it to me. They pay about .25/lb hulled. I have about 20 trees to harvest from and could have more if I had the time.

 

[wayne55]

sweet gum

 

[knotdust]

Builder told me to keep branches from trees trimmed back so they don't overhang my house. Just an invitation for squirrels and racoons to get on to the roof and into the house.

 

[billspit]

We have a birch tree that overhangs our deck. I trimmed the heck out of it a few weeks ago. I feel it’s days are numbered. If it goes a week without rain it starts dropping dead leaves. It also drops tons of small branches in windstorms. The only tree that could be worse it the crepe Myrtle that I have at the front corner of my house. The blooms drop all summer and stain my cars. Never ever plant one close to the house or parking area.

 

[billspit]

Builder told me to keep branches from trees trimmed back so they don't overhang my house. Just an invitation for squirrels and racoons to get on to the roof and into the house.

The little SOBs climb up my brick chimney.

 

[knotdust]

The little SOBs climb up my brick chimney.

no chimney so they can't get up that way but they still get up anyway. I've heard them a few times. I went around and foamed the inside of all the corners of my vinyl siding and that seems to have stopped some of their incursions. At least I haven't heard anything lately.

 

[WSHILL]

Locust tress...Bush hogged 4.5 acres with a dense amount of 2 inch diameter ones that were 6 ft tall. Went away for a week ....my front tractor tires had lost all of the air in them and were off the rims. About 20 1/32" splinters were in each . They are a seriously hard wood.

 

[billspit]

no chimney so they can't get up that way but they still get up anyway. I've heard them a few times. I went around and foamed the inside of all the corners of my vinyl siding and that seems to have stopped some of their incursions. At least I haven't heard anything lately.

I can hear the little devils running all over my roof in the mornings. I was sure they were in the attic, but I can’t find any evidence of that.

 

[anomm701]

Never plant a sweet gum tree spiky ping pong ball sized things drop from the tree year round

 

[The Bean]

Beware the teddy bear cholla cactus, the most dangerous plant in the desert.

I got spiked by this one in the desert outside Tucson. The Jumping Cholla.

David Attenborough spiked by most dangerous plant in desert

Even thick, elbow-length protective gloves could not stop Sir David Attenborough's hand being stabbed by th...

www.9news.com.au

 

[billspit]

Never plant a sweet gum tree spiky ping pong ball sized things drop from the tree year round

You don’t have to plant them. They are by far the most prominent volunteer tree around here.

 

[MattN03]

Honey locust was my enemy at my other house, profuse growers if you don't keep removing the suckers from the root of the felled tree.
Seems just walking near it will get you scratched by the thorns.

I agree...I hate honey locust!!

 

[4xdog]

More d*mned sweetgums in my neighborhood. This time showing how sweetgum roots will lift pavement. Grrr...

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Celtis occidentalis, aka the common hackberry. Sheds constantly throughout it's lifetime, making mowing a challenge. Concludes it's performance by falling on your house, destroying the roof right above the bed where you're sleeping.

 

[jives]

Locust tress...Bush hogged 4.5 acres with a dense amount of 2 inch diameter ones that were 6 ft tall. Went away for a week ....my front tractor tires had lost all of the air in them and were off the rims. About 20 1/32" splinters were in each . They are a seriously hard wood.

Black locust is a major cash crop in eastern Europe, mainly Hungry. Second only to Osage Orange in durability (i.e., rot resistance), super high BTUs for firewood, grows fast and straight, super honey from its flowers. Can get out of control by sucker action, but other than that is the most underrated tree in North America.

 

[KEH]

Re the sweetgum trees, I generally agree with all the negative comments, and one not mentioned s that if sweetgum lumber is made it can't be used outside because it is not decay resistant. However, the lumber is not all bad. It dries into tough hard lumber. I always thought it would make good pallet and packing case lumber, but for some reason it seems to be rarely used. Perhaps it is more profitable to sell it for pulpwood. Boards sawed from large old sweetgums have some interesting red streaks in it and it is sometimes sold to woodworkers as "Red Gum" but it is not very popular.

KEH

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I had a chinese chestnut tree in my side yard when I bought the place. Quickly figured out it smelled 100% like *****, and my guests noticed that as well. Promptly cut that one down and replaced it with an Eastern Redbud.

 

[4x4Pete]

Manitoba maple- I don't think that's the offical name. Grows like a weed, has suckers everywhere, branches practically fall off in the wind and the wood isn't any good for anything, even burning! They grow fairly big but don't live too long, they are here to make a big mess.

Buckthorn, evasive species here. Grows along the (north)edges of fields mostly. Huge sharp thorns. The branches get tangled up with other close by trees. To clear them you'd better have some very thick leather gloves on and lots of bandaids!

 

[HenryAZ]

Buckthorn, evasive species here. Grows along the (north)edges of fields mostly. Huge sharp thorns. The branches get tangled up with other close by trees. To clear them you'd better have some very thick leather gloves on and lots of bandaids!

Mesquite here in the desert is like that. Lots of thorns, some 1.5" long. I had to tangle with one a few weeks ago, where a storm had completely blown out the top branches. None were completely disconnected, just hanging to the ground. After pole sawing the branches down, trimming them for stacking, and loading on the trailer, I think I used half a box of bandaids. And I was wearing a long sleeved shirt and using long leather welding gloves.

 

[The Bean]

THE TREE FROM HELL!

All good nominees in this thread. My nominees were in agreement with a lot of yours. Sweet Gum seems to be special, lol.
But,
In and around Philadelphia, we have a tree we call the Manayunk Palm, named for a neighborhood along the Schuylkill River and for its appearance with long clustered leaves and seed bunches. It is the Tree of Heaven, native to China, imported into Pennsylvania hundreds of years ago (i suspect famed botanist John Bartram, of the famed Bartram's Garden in Philly) as an ornamental, sold in nurseries, used in cityscapes.
It's nicknames include stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree. It is also the favorite of spotted lanterns flies, so it supports a growing population of a second invasive Chinese species. Oy!
I didn't nominated it earlier because I have never had one on any property where I have lived, but all around Philly, I see it.
Horrible!
For more on Tree of Heaven:

 

[jar944]

THE TREE FROM HELL!

All good nominees in this thread. My nominees were in agreement with a lot of yours. Sweet Gum seems to be special, lol.
But,
In and around Philadelphia, we have a tree we call the Manayunk Palm, named for a neighborhood along the Schuylkill River and for its appearance with long clustered leaves and seed bunches. It is the Tree of Heaven, native to China, imported into Pennsylvania hundreds of years ago (i suspect famed botanist John Bartram, of the famed Bartram's Garden in Philly) as an ornamental, sold in nurseries, used in cityscapes.
It's nicknames include stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree. It is also the favorite of spotted lanterns flies, so it supports a growing population of a second invasive Chinese species. Oy!
I didn't nominated it earlier because I have never had one on any property where I have lived, but all around Philly, I see it.
Horrible!
For more on Tree of Heaven:

Exceptionally prolific. One of the few trees I've actually removed from my property.

 

[TMcCay]

For me it is a several way tie with experience from them: Cottonwood, Mimosa, Silver Maple, and Sweet Gum. Forgot the much hated Catalpa.

 

[Ilikeike]

THE TREE FROM HELL!

All good nominees in this thread. My nominees were in agreement with a lot of yours. Sweet Gum seems to be special, lol.
But,
In and around Philadelphia, we have a tree we call the Manayunk Palm, named for a neighborhood along the Schuylkill River and for its appearance with long clustered leaves and seed bunches. It is the Tree of Heaven, native to China, imported into Pennsylvania hundreds of years ago (i suspect famed botanist John Bartram, of the famed Bartram's Garden in Philly) as an ornamental, sold in nurseries, used in cityscapes.
It's nicknames include stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree. It is also the favorite of spotted lanterns flies, so it supports a growing population of a second invasive Chinese species. Oy!
I didn't nominated it earlier because I have never had one on any property where I have lived, but all around Philly, I see it.
Horrible!
For more on Tree of Heaven:

These weeds are in just about every yard in the less desirable neighborhoods...

 

[Copymutt]

Anyone spotting a theme here? Any tree in vicinity of your house/deck/pool/driveway/whatever is a pain in the ***.

I have nothing within 30 feet of my house and those are just ornamental crape myrtles (which, by the way are also a pain in the ***).

In the early 80’s we planted a 6 clump of Aspens in our courtyard about 8 ft. from the house.
Absolutely a big win. Trunks are now about 10” and around 20’ tall. House is much cooler in summer thanks to the shade.
Elm tree that was present, but small on the southern side when we moved in, 1977 has required some management. Its about 15’ from the structure and 30’ tall. Removing problem limbs on Elm‘s results in open wounds that don‘t heal and result in potential decay. So far cableing has controlled the conformation, otherwise it would be a serious danger in a strong wind. Have several other elms over 6’ block wall that are also cabled due to their poor growth conformation.

 

[jar944]

These weeds are in just about every yard in the less desirable neighborhoods...

And line every road, highway and interstate.

 

[67CarGuy]

I'll nominate the magnolia tree, which I don't think I've seen mentioned here yet. Drops pinecone-sized seed pods and hard, waxy leaves seemingly 365 days / year. While it does offer significant shade, and the limbs don't seem to break in storms, having to always deal with the leaves and seed pods means there will never be one planted on my property.

I'm in agreement on the silver maples, understand the complaints against willows and cottonwoods (although I grew up with both and wouldn't cut them down), and most anything else that your local extension service or nursery would label as invasive. And yes, anyone who plants nearly any tree closer than 10-15 feet (or more, depending on the species) to the house deserves all the gutter cleaning, etc. that comes their way. Sadly, it's usually the next owner who actually has to deal with those things...

 

[CombatNinja]

In the early 80’s we planted a 6 clump of Aspens in our courtyard about 8 ft. from the house.
Absolutely a big win. Trunks are now about 10” and around 20’ tall. House is much cooler in summer thanks to the shade.
Elm tree that was present, but small on the southern side when we moved in, 1977 has required some management. Its about 15’ from the structure and 30’ tall. Removing problem limbs on Elm‘s results in open wounds that don‘t heal and result in potential decay. So far cableing has controlled the conformation, otherwise it would be a serious danger in a strong wind. Have several other elms over 6’ block wall that are also cabled due to their poor growth conformation.

You do you, boo. I live in a hurricane zone, no way I am going to have a tree near my house that can fall and hit it.

 

[jives]

I'll second the buckthorn. I spent the first covid lockdown (work from home), finally attacking the invasive buckthorn that had taken over my 4 ac field. I ended up cutting down about 800 trees, ranging from 1-7 inches in diameter. Smaller ones were mowed. Used my cordless Makita recip saw with diablo pruning blades. Cut at ground level, then sprayed with concentrated Roundup (21% solution, TSC generic brand glysophate). Periodic mowing has kept them at bay.

 

[HenryAZ]

In the past, I used diesel on mesquite stumps that I have cut flush to the ground. It prevents them from ever sprouting branches again. But I cannot use this method any more, due to complaints from the wife about the odor. The smell does kind of stick around for a while.

 

[anomm701]

In the past, I used diesel on mesquite stumps that I have cut flush to the ground. It prevents them from ever sprouting branches again. But I cannot use this method any more, due to complaints from the wife about the odor. The smell does kind of stick around for a while.

I heard salt works as well

 

[yeldogt]

THE TREE FROM HELL!

All good nominees in this thread. My nominees were in agreement with a lot of yours. Sweet Gum seems to be special, lol.
But,
In and around Philadelphia, we have a tree we call the Manayunk Palm, named for a neighborhood along the Schuylkill River and for its appearance with long clustered leaves and seed bunches. It is the Tree of Heaven, native to China, imported into Pennsylvania hundreds of years ago (i suspect famed botanist John Bartram, of the famed Bartram's Garden in Philly) as an ornamental, sold in nurseries, used in cityscapes.
It's nicknames include stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree. It is also the favorite of spotted lanterns flies, so it supports a growing population of a second invasive Chinese species. Oy!
I didn't nominated it earlier because I have never had one on any property where I have lived, but all around Philly, I see it.
Horrible!
For more on Tree of Heaven:

Know it all too well ...

 

[yeldogt]

When I owned my Philadelphia trinity the street was lined with ginkgo trees -- female. There are many theories why they planted females -- but they are there. It's a very nice looking tree and grows well in the city ..... wrecks the side walks (mine was brick and my OCD was a problem).

Most any swamp tree that grows wild is high on my list of "junk" -- really, any fast growing tree ends up being a problem. The pin oak was popular as it was a fast growing variety ... fast to die as well. All the old properties I purchased always had a bunch of junk .... it's a curse

All the hybrid trees are horrible --

Bradford pear has to be on anybody's list as well as any of the fake cherries.

 

[engineer2]

Since this is a tree topic, I have a neighbor with an interesting situation. Had a tree cut down, but the trunk grew around a length of 3/4 all-thread (wtf?) that originally supported the sapling 30 years ago. It's in there pretty good and you can see a few inches sticking out of the side of the stump.

I was thinking we could carve out around it with a chain saw and if a pipe wrench won't unscrew it, cut off what we can. Any thoughts or ideas? I don't have a welder otherwise I'd weld a nut on top and use my impact.
The tree guy said to cut out as much as possible and his stump grinder would get the rest. Said the steel is hard on his grinder, but won't kill it.
Any thoughts?

 

[4xdog]

My nonogenarian neighbor and I had a sweetgum taken out between our driveways over five years ago. As the guys were grinding the stump they caught the chain link fence. Did one hell of a number on it. I'm still finding little pieces of chain link wire in the yard far from the fence line.

I don't like the idea of stump-grinding metal AT ALL.

 

[CombatNinja]

The look on that guy's face is something I am familiar with.

 

[Jeff C]

I’ll add the persimmon tree to the list. The sticky mess the persimmons make when they fall off the tree is unbelievable. If you walk through the area and let them dry on the bottom of your shoes it’s nearly impossible to get the mess off.

In reality though, most of the issues mentioned here (including mine) come down to poor placement of the trees. It’s amazing how big a mature tree can get and most of us never plan for that size.