Don't Plant Aspen Trees in Your Colorado Landscape

Aspens are spectacular trees in their native habitats, but the Front Range Gardener gives five reasons why aspens are not good in the Front Range. The quaking aspens found in Colorado are a member of the poplar family (as are the cottonwoods found in riparian habitats in the lowlands). Populus tremuloides is the scientific name.
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Short Life
01:47 Invasive
02:37 Pests and Diseases
03:14 No Fall Colors
03:42 Messy

[@WildWoodlandsSW]

I ordered 3 saplings online. When they arrived I did a bit more research,and found out they would be a disaster for my 'front range'. Your video sums it up perfectly! I sent them straight back the same day! Great for the wild,not for the garden.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

I'm glad that I could save you from a disaster. Thanks for watching.

[@WildWoodlandsSW]

@@FrontRangeGardener 🙂👍

[@hal0hal0mc]

Good points but it does depend on what you are seeking as a gardener or what you find aesthetically pleasing. I have a small stand of 5 aspen on the property and I'm ultimately aiming to downsize the lawn significantly and replacing with mostly Colorado native flora that are reasonably drought resistant. The aspen have weirdly done well in spite of my virtually non-existent care of them and the shade they provide improves the soil moisture around them for sure. They *are* a little wild and like to pop up suckers but I don't mind weeding them out where they are undesired. Obviously, if the goal of your gardening is neat planting where everything is in its place with clean swathes of lawns, Aspen are a poor choice. But I like the capriciousness of the tree. My goal is to have a mostly self-sustaining, constantly in-flux garden that flows with time in a slightly wild manner... Plus the root system is fairly shallow so it's unlikely to damage foundations and the like.

[@fmjakhilles]

was gonna plant one, now gonna plant ten.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

If you're going to do it, go big! Thanks for watching.

[@elesjuanpi7041]

HAHAHAH

[@ericmendrek6444]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Thanks for watching.

[@gtaylor5053]

Thank you so much for the excellent information and your effort to present it. Please keep the videos coming! Would love to hear more about best trees, shrubs, and perennials for our climate, clay soil, and small lots. The nurseries seem to sell things that are not always the best options. We are about 30 min north of Denver and are starting in on landscaping our 1/4 acre lot. Currently selecting columnar screening trees, a large shade tree, and evergreens for winter interest for starters.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

It's hard to beat ponderosa pines and pinyon pines as the backbone of a Front Range landscape. Both require little supplemental water once established. There are lots or great varieties of mugo pines in varying heights from 2-10 feet. They make a great mid-layer in your landscape. Small trees I like are thronless cockspur Hawthorne and tatarian maple. Some maple species do poorly in Colorado's alkaline soils. Thanks for watching.

[@erichnowe8188]

All trees have landscape care concerns. Unless you zero scape, manage your yard with an irrigation system, or pay a professional, Aspens are a viable option for natural shade and moisture retention in your yard. They attract bumble bees and their shoots potentially create even more shade. The weaker shoots in the system die off like the limbs of a tree, but the parent will live just as long as other trees if it remains the primary. You just cut the dead shoots like you would cut off a dead tree limb and then dried Aspen wood is easy to split with an axe. Most people consider the Poplar Twiggal Fly the most unattractive aspect of Aspens, even though they do not harm the tree. There is a homemade pest spray that works well on Aspens. If you don't want an all volunteer grove of Aspens (your neighbors may not), then clearly you prefer to pay to strategically place another variety such as Maple, Birch, or Pine in that spot. For these, you just pound some tree fertilizer stakes in the ground and keep them watered. They will also survive the Colorado sun, hot dry spells, hail, and cold snaps that get the better of other trees in Colorado.

[@kevin1153]

Bought a house with an older aspen in front, neighbors three houses down get shoots from it. Everyone sounded pretty happy when I said I plan on taking it down. I think it was a point of contention.

[@OfftoShambala]

Too bad they have that attitude… what a treat that would be… to live in an aspen forest

[@rgreen5358]

Useful and important video that is relevant beyond Colorado. Aspens are beautiful, but it's a poor landscape chocie. I live at sea level, in Yakima County Washington State ("Lower Valley") which is essentially desert climate but has good irrigation. Hot summers and cold winners with limited rainfall, but sufficient water irrigation water. Previous owner planted many aspen (n=20) 20 years ago. Grew fast. I have lived at this ranch 5 years and about 15 trees have died, or been felled by high winds. Only 2 of 5 remaining still appear healthy. On the positive side, I have a good supply of firewood!

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Aspens are so pretty in their natural environment, and such a disaster outside of it.

[@Dr.LongMonkey]

The aspen on my property are HUGE 70+ feet, they are 50 years old. They’re all pretty healthy but I’ve been cutting them down to allow for the Ash, Oak, Maple, Yellow Birch, White Pine to grow. They’re a good tree to kickstart a forest

[@snakehead5444]

Always wanted to plant aspens at our cabin in mammoth at 8300ft. This winter crushed so many around the neighborhood that I may reconsider.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

At least to that elevation you were closer to their natural environment.

[@Abangsaury]

Hadir nyimak kawan

[@WeezieV]

Thank you for your video. I live in zone 6. Northeast Ohio. I love the way quaking aspen are usually tall and single trunks, but I want a white paper birch for my front yard. Why are the aspen in the mountains you show at the beginning and end of the video greenish? Young age or soil? I want to plant some and hope they will become as bright white as possible.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

The aspens may look green because of the light. It was a bit overcast.

[@jacintoregoaqui]

Very good, Brother. I'm Brazil. Yout video are very good

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@DDGLJ]

Another problem is permanent hail damage. When we lived in Billings we had aspens installed by the landscape company (before we knew any better). The western sides of the trees were permanently pockmarked with hundreds of black 1-2 inch scars. Now we live up in the mountains where we have hundreds that grow naturally- but they’re still problematic. They are gorgeous as a forest, where you can cut down the diseased and damaged ones without ruining the look. I would never use them as a specimen tree, though, even up here.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Good tip. Thanks.

[@stonelark]

Stop picking on aspens; they don't mean any harm. We love them here in Washington state.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

I'm glad they work for someone.

[@lehiarreaga3317]

I live in Mapleton Utah , near the foothills , bought a home with a few mature aspens probably around 10-12 years old , they are planted next to a fire hydrant and curb near the road, they are too big to cut down right now but invasive they are. scared for the future

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@janetairlines1351]

If you plant one, say on a lawn at a business, will regular mowing never allow the suckers to become an issue? How deep do their roots go? Will they damage a sewer line that is 4 feet+ deep

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Most tree roots, including aspens, are shallow. The suckers grow faster than my lawn, so they are unsightly even with regular mowing.

[@barbaraporter5116]

What tree do you recommend for the front range?

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Two of my favorite deciduous trees are the Tatarian maple and the thornless cockspur Hawthorne.

[@IINVICTA]

The house we purchased has aspen trees. Now I’ve got aspens popping up EVERYWHERE

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Good luck with those aspens. Thanks for watching.

[@soniamonia573]

Planted Aspen this fall about 50ft away from house. Now I’m thinking it is too close and I might have to remove it in Spring before it establishes its roots 🤔.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Aspen roots spread widely, but they generally don't harm walkways or foundations.

[@russg4313]

Short lifespans because they're not meant to be "standalone" trees. They sucker and replenish themselves - you need to encourage them and let them do that. Trembling aspens should be designed into your yard as "stands". The pros still outweigh the cons for these trees.

[@stcif]

Great for deer habitat though.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

For sure!

[@julianwayte]

My evergreens went brown and died off, I have 3 aspens that are doing great on the front range, I love them. You do have to prune off excess tree stems (2 or 3 max provide mutual support against wind). I water mine and have to rake up the leaves in the fall but there are few things as lovely as the twinkling aspen leaves in a gentle breeze. Don’t believe everything you hear on the internet.

[@theweirdospfan.28]

I’m an Ohioan and I found a couple cuttings in the forest and on the side of the road, gonna try and root them

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Let me know how it goes.

[@belladriver258]

i found a little aspen tree in my property i'm watching it like is a bomsai tree lol i I live in Breckenridge

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Breckenridge is at least the proper climate for aspens.

[@joejoe9973]

Do you think they would do ok in southern Wisconsin? I love these trees and want one in my yard. Thanks!

[@FrontRangeGardener]

I really don't know the conditions in Wisconsin

[@justinfreeman3473]

How would they do in Florida?

[@FrontRangeGardener]

Poorly, but I think you know that :-)

[@justinfreeman3473]

It was an honest question bud. We have a lot of water, and wondered if they'd do well.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

@@justinfreeman3473 I'm sorry I misinterpreted your question. Aspens are indigenous to USDA hardiness zones 1-3. This is a radically different climate than Florida. I would be surprised if you could even buy one in Florida.

[@justinfreeman3473]

You're good. I'm actually in the area and was considering taking a few cuttings before returning home. When looking for videos about the cottonwood and its relatives i came across your video. Something that grows quick with an enthusiasm for water would be ideal for what i'd like to do and thought it would be interesting to try out for fun to see if they took, but also wanted to know the likelihood of their surviving. Thanks for the info, and happy Saturday!@@FrontRangeGardener

[@janetairlines1351]

They will die. They are a cold climate tree. Im in the mountains of MA and they grow everywhere here

[@wolfgrey8483]

Instructions unclear, planting one in Oklahoma

[@FrontRangeGardener]

I don't know much about Oklahoma. Let me know if aspens grow well there.

[@briansmith9698]

Aspen's are poplars basically so is cottonwood all in the willow family. Never plant Aspen in a small or front yard massive root system needs lots of room to grow high water demand shade intolraent good in big large yards with standing water planted way way way in back near water soak water up. They can live 70-100 years everything this guy says is true. They look nice like White poplar.

[@FrontRangeGardener]

High water usage is a great point. Just another reason not to plant aspens or any other poplar.

[@briansmith9698]

@@FrontRangeGardener But if you have a standing water problem in a large yard then there a good tree for soaking water up also good for wind break and screens and shade

[@briansmith9698]

Cottonwood better shade tree than aspen keep trees away from foundation and septic and sewers

[@briansmith9698]

Rather have the cottonwood over aspen or willow less messy other than cotton

[@briansmith9698]

Aspen is better than tree of heaven atleast it has some good qualities unlike tree of heaven