What's a good fast growing deciduous tree that costs around $30?

[Quixote1818]

I live in Albuquerque so it has to do well in sandy well drained soil. I was thinking of:

Globe Willow
Arizona Sycamore
Poplar
Cottonwood

Any other suggestions? Which grow the fastest?

[Red State Rebel]

1. You are on the right track with Poplars

If they can take the growing conditions, Lombardy Poplars are very fast growing, but they will also die much more quickly.

Also, you might want to check the Arbor Day Foundation website - you can get trees there for amazing prices. http://www.arborday.org/ They have hybrid poplars that grow 5-7 feet a year for $8.50 or $5.50 if you join their foundation.

[disillusioned1]

2. Silver maple grows fast

We have them in sandy, dry soil. Unfortunately, they're not very strong. Don't plant them too close to your house.

We have one in the front yard that's over 100 years old. I hope it doesn't fall on our house, or we're toast.

Silver maples are wonderful shade trees and grow quickly. I have no idea how they would do in NM.

[barb162]

3. what zone is your city

I was thinking Mexican weeping bamboo which is absolutely GORGEOUS. How high of a tree are you contemplating?

Poplars last about 5 or ten years and are often thought of as a junk tree, and they do grow incredibly fast. And as soon as they reach their full height they start dying off. I had 3.

[Quixote1818]

5. Zone 7

http://www.burpee.com/shopping/search/zipzonemain.jsp?zip=87120&zipcode=Find+Zone

[Quixote1818]

6. When do poplars reach their full height?

I want a tree that covers and shades a large area in the back yard. It doesn't have to be too tall but I want it to spread out and make lots of shade.

[barb162]

8. We used to have a cottonwood years ago and they do cover

a lot of area under their canopy.

[barb162]

21. then don't look at Mx. weeping bamboo. You want a tree that

is shaped like an elm or ash or oak. And like the other poster said about your local gov. resources, they know best grows in zone 7. Just remember the fastest growers die fastest as a general rule.

[barb162]

7. you might want to take a look at photos of Mx. weeping bamboo

on various web sites. If I could grow it in my zone (4) I would. It is gorgeous. Or is it so common in your area you consider it a weed.

[Quixote1818]

9. Will Do

[havocmom]

4. Havocdad says consider a Honey Locust

and call High Country Gardens in Santa Fe for ideas.

Also, if your county has a Conservation District, call them. Many offer trees for sale in the spring and the prices are very resonable as they work with a lot of ranches and farms which need lots of trees for wildlife and shelter belts.

[KitchenWitch]

10. avoid cottonwood

yes they grow fast, but they pollute the air in spring with their floaties (many are allergic to their floatie seeds)

Poplars are good fast growing trees if you are not subject to wind gusts.

Any fast growing tree is going to be susceptible to losing branches and limbs if it gets really windy.

[barb162]

16. having one as a kid in the front yard, I remember the

cottonballs which just disappeared after a few days, like flower petals that have fallen off a flower. That was one big tree.

[SoCalDem]

11. Cottonwoods grow like WEEDS.. They are big and fast-growers

of course the "best" ones are the native ones.. You can find them "free" in riverbeds areas, but they do have the "cotton".. If you want the cottonless kind, they will cost more:)

I am fromkansas and cottonwoods are everywhere..they make a lot of noise when it's windy though.. lots of big leaves rustling :)

[Demonaut]

15. live fast, die early....on a normal lawn they only last about 30 years

watering the grass can kill them over time.

[SoCalDem]

19. But if you do not plan on living in your house forever,

they make a great shade tree and the peoiple who buy your house don;t have to know how old it is :evilgrin:

[Stop_the_War]

12. sequoias

LOL just kidding

[ralps]

13. If you are interested there is a website that sells historic trees. I got

a tree from them for my mom's birthday/ mother's day present the website is
http://www.historictrees.org/
From what I remember on that site you can find out what trees can grow in your area.
:hi:

[Quixote1818]

14. Anyone ever buy tree's from this website:

http://www.autumnridgenursery.com/index.cfm

Their prices are dirt cheep! Are the tree's healthy?

[barb162]

17. I just took a fast look and it looks like they are selling "whips"

or even less which is why they are pricing the trees at 4.50.

[Quixote1818]

18. What is a whip?

[SoCalDem]

20. a spindley single "stick" with a few teensy leaves..

The kind you accidentally mow down, of the neighbor nid rides his trike over and kills it :)

[all.of.me]

22. do you have water?

these all need water. what are your growing conditions?

[u4ic]

23. Make sure you're not allergic to poplar fluff

it's quite a common one, actually.