arbed
enthusiast
Reged: 01/29/04
Posts: 268
Loc: Baltimore, Maryland
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Hi all, with all the snow that has hit the east coast lately my poor big magnolia tree has lost several major limbs. the tree i would say is at least 40-50 years old, maybe older. any ideas if i remove the tree and replace it with another tree that would be fast growing to provide me with some shade? 
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bozodog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/19/07
Posts: 8906
Loc: SW Michigan
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Mannn... that's a shame. Guess all of us should think about "shoveling" our trees too. 
Arbor Day Foundation has all you need to know about trees, their growth habits, and care.
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Fairness as equal treatment does not produce fairness as equal outcomes.
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RicVA
fanatic
Reged: 12/28/04
Posts: 444
Loc: Central VA
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I'm kind of in your area. Are you looking for shade that a tree will cast on something or a shade tree that you can actually sit under? What size do you want it to be?
Some faster growing, smaller trees - most "fruit" trees - pear, plum.
For larger tree I would go with a maple.
Unless you buy something of substantial size, you are looking at several years before any significant shade is produced.
I definitely went out and shoveled some trees that were being weighed down yesterday. They just aren't all built to handle that load.
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bozodog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/19/07
Posts: 8906
Loc: SW Michigan
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An old timers saying is, "If you want shade, plant an Elm and a Maple. About the time the Elm dies, the Maple will be a fine shade tree." 
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Fairness as equal treatment does not produce fairness as equal outcomes.
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DonkeyDave
Reged: 12/12/03
Posts: 17073
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Unfortunately most if not all fast growing trees put out very aggressive roots. That means trouble for your sewer system. The ones I can think of off hand are weeping willows, poplar and mulberry. Those trees are not allowed in a lot of cities. Your best bet IMO is to buy the biggest maple tree you can afford.
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One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
Plato
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bozodog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/19/07
Posts: 8906
Loc: SW Michigan
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You got that right! They also don't live long and come down at the wrong times...
Depending on your location, study the Arbor Day site... It really has all the info you need to make a decision. Talking to a local nursery or two is a good idea.
In fact, have them come out and have a look at the Magnolia. Perhaps it can be pruned and will regrow/fill out faster than a new tree. Pruning older stock often does great good for the vitality of it. The cut wounds may cause an earlier demise, but you may be able to get many more years out of it. (10+)
Please find a knowledgeable service, not some chainsaw hack with a bucket truck, and the cheapest price.
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Fairness as equal treatment does not produce fairness as equal outcomes.
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tektools
newbie
Reged: 01/22/10
Posts: 19
Loc: Pgh PA
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I got a couple of these along the side of my yard. They grow faster than any tree I ever saw. Around 6 feet a year and the leaves drop later than others. There not the best looking tree. Small branches shoot out next to the older ones so some areas look bushy until they get trimmed.
http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/HybridPoplar.htm
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arbed
enthusiast
Reged: 01/29/04
Posts: 268
Loc: Baltimore, Maryland
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thanks for everyone's input, as far as a poplar goes, nooooo way.... as a kid growing up i saw way to many break off during thunder storms. i love my magnolia it's old and huge but i don't think pruning it back will help alot especially with the flowering part. the tree should have been pruned back hard when i first moved into my house 30 years ago but sadly wasn't. it's now too big and too tall to trim without calling in an expert. i can see what needs to be pruned i just can't get to it. one limb last year was wired to the trunk to save it and that one is still hanging in there. i notice where the break in the limbs are in that the inside bark is extremely dry and brittle, guess that's just the nature of a magnolia but also guess it could be the age. i would like something flowering like the magnolia but i don't think i will find anythng that is a fast grower. the tree with the size it is provides shade to my back yard and is a cool spot to sit under in the summer. i really hate to see it go but once all this friggin snow is gone and spring finally arrives, i guess time will tell.
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Scholastica
``Karen Kandoo``
Reged: 09/21/03
Posts: 1519
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
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Arbed-
I just saw your post. You may want to ask an arborist if it could be pollarded. That's when they cut the limbs/branches WAY back. It "rejuvinates" a tree and it fills in amazingly fast. I had that done in the fall of 2008 to a couple trees. One was a magnolia and the other an apple tree. The Magnolia was healthy, but just way too big. The apple was sick - more old - and had stopped putting forth fruit. Both trees filled in this year AND bloomed!! I even got apples! The Magnolia was done in JANUARY - and still bloomed and filled in. Your right about not tackling that job on your own!!!  Leave that to the experts. 
Maples do grow quickly, have a long life and produce really great shade. Check with your local arborist and horticultural extension as they can tell you what plants do best in your area. In my area, New York, we're having trouble with the Asian Long-Horned Beatles destroying trees. They're starting to plant different trees (i.e., Winterberries) because they are less susceptible to these. Elm disease destroyed these beautiful trees across the nation. The East Coast had a blight that ravaged the Hemlocks.
Good luck!
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Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
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arbed
enthusiast
Reged: 01/29/04
Posts: 268
Loc: Baltimore, Maryland
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Thanks, i've never heard of that term before for cutting back a tree but will check into it once the snow/blizzard of 2010 are done in this area, Maryland....I'm sure you are going to get some of this mess up your way too sometime later today or tomorrow, good luck digging out. I like the idea of a maple but wasn't sure how long it took maples to grow big enough to produce decent shade. thanks again for everyone's input, at least i have some ideas now as to what i might be able to do.
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