Beautiful in the wild, aspen (Populus tremuloides) has the widest native range of any North American tree. Flattened petioles cause their leaves to tremble in the slightest breeze. Aspens in the park may have caught your eye as they turned a brilliant shade of yellow for the changing seasons. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the facts about quaking aspen trees before putting any in your yard. A problem for a homeowner may be the presence of cultivated aspens. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of planting quaking aspen trees, keep reading.
Facts about Quaking Aspen Trees
Consider the pros and cons of cultivated quaking aspen trees before planting one in your garden. Some gardeners adore them, while others despise their presence.
The rapid growth and extreme hardiness of aspen trees make them an excellent choice for landscaping. If you plant aspens, you’ll be able to “furnish” a new backyard in just a few years. Aspens are small trees that won’t take over your yard, but they can add some nice color in the fall.
As a “succession” tree, however, aspens play an important role in nature. To help forest trees such as pine, fir, and spruce seedlings survive in eroded or burned areas, this plant spreads rapidly in the wild. The aspens disappear as forest trees grow larger.
Facts about quaking aspen trees show that in the right environment, this succession tree spreads quickly. It grows quickly from seeds and suckers. When you plant a quaking aspen tree, be prepared for an invasion of quaking aspen weed trees.
What is the maximum size of quaking aspen?
The size of a quaking aspen tree is an important consideration if you plan to plant one. However, they can grow up to 70 feet (21 meters) high when left to their own devices in the wild.
Trees that are grown in soil that is different from the natural environment may remain smaller than trees that are grown in the wild. It’s also possible that they’ll lose their leaves without putting on a show like the ones in the parks.
How to Grow Quaking Aspen Trees: A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing a quaking aspen tree from a nursery rather than one that was harvested from the wild is preferable. Trees grown in nurseries may be less susceptible to disease than those grown in the wild.
Choosing the right location for a quaking aspen tree is an important part of its care. Do not use dry soil when planting the trees. For the tree to thrive, the soil should have a slight acidic pH.
Instead of more sunny areas, place aspens on northern or eastern slopes or the northern or eastern sides of your house. They are unable to survive in hot, dry soil or in drought.
