What is a good tree to replace old dying willow trees ?

Question

I am having 3 old half dead willows removed because their dead branches are threatening the neighborhood electric line. What good not-too-tall trees can live in the same conditions? The neighbors told me that the previous owner tried many trees, including river birch, and they all died until the willows.

I'm replacing because they're gross and dead, not due to complaints. No neighbors near them, just power lines that feed MY house, too.

Whatever I replace it with has to be able to live with wet, but not be so tall.

Answer 1

Well, you're bound to have a lot of opinions, here's mine.
You could try serviceberry (Amelanchier, juneberry), it is an understory tree that grows under larger trees especially on the rivers' edge. I agree with other answerer's too, dogwood (Cornus) is also a good choice. I know this isn't maybe the most popular tree, but pussywillow (Salix caprea) is going to be smaller than it's weeping cousin, just as hardy and tolerant of the wet conditions.

Height is the biggest problem, not the wet feet.

I hope that this helps
Good luck -

Answer 2

Birch and willow are northern trees - so are you in zone 2? or 3? A zone 3 tree can grow in the pacific northwest if you plant it next to the house on the south side. If you are looking for something as a buffer between your house and the street, try lilac trees. You can prune them so they don't grow too tall and they have beautiful blossoms in the early summer. Lilacs are hardy too.

We live in zone 2 and have a China Tea Berry tree in our front yard that looks delicate, but is very hardy. It is the first tree to bloom in the spring with beautiful light pink blossoms. It grows more slowly than lilacs and doesn't get new shoots from the roots like a lilac.

Another good tree in the pacific northwest that does well in zone 2 is the Canadian Cherry tree. It has beautiful purple plum colored leaves and can be pruned so it doesn't grow too tall. It usually has multiple trunks and can be trained as a tree or as a large bush.

The Parkland and Norland apple trees also do well in zones 2 and 3 and produce delicious small apples (about three to 3" in diameter) that you can eat right off the tree in late summer.

Crabapple trees grow in zones 2 and 3, but do best if planted out of cold north winds. You can get varieties that have pink or white blossums in the spring. Crabapples can be used to make jelly and syrup after the first frost. Frost causes them to sweeten up... they are too sour to eat off the tree.

Also, you know how apple trees always look like they are wider than they are tall? If you want a tall growing tree to be short with wide spreading branches, cut the main branch coming out of the top of the tree. Research it first on line or with your local nursery to see what the best time of year to do that would be and how tall the tree should be before you do it. If you want your trees to be healthy, make sure they get enough water and fertilize them once a year and water them well afterward.

Answer 3

well, this is a very TALL tree.. but OAK is a great tree.

the reason is this: the roots grow STRAIGHT DOWN ... they will not run along the ground.. they will not seek water in pipe lines.. nothing. they are sturdy and last forever.

we are doing this too... willow and all.

Answer 4

How about some fruit trees? Maybe if there was luscious fruit hanging over they wouldnt complain. Dwarfs perhaps.

Answer 5

So your neighbor's a moron? Plant another willow.

Answer 6

jap maple or a flowering dogwood umbrla pines are realy nice

Answer 7

cherry blossom tree's are beautifull