Hello, my wife has recently challenged me to cut down our Larix laricina since it's in the middle of our yard and makes a hinderance to playing in the yard. I planted it when we didn't have a child and hadn't thought at the time of the future. Without it, the yard would have a nice open space for our daughter to run around. Being a tree lover, I really don't want to cut it down because I like it. So I said to her I'd consider cutting it only if it was replaced by another tree somewhere else in the yard. The problem is that we don't have much extra space and the surrounding trees have already been planted for 7-8 years. So I'm looking for a tree that doesn't mind competing with a sunburst honeylocust (to the south), red maple (to the north), and sweet gum (to the east), which are all 15-25' away from my proposed planting site. The tree would need to have a decent growth rate so it can stand a chance in competing with the surrounding trees. We live in Lancaster PA and our soil is limestoney clay. I was thinking a Shumard Oak. What are your suggestions?

What about red mulberry, or black cherry, black walnut, or maybe a nice osage orange... maybe a red cedar?

I suggest thinking about helping the songbirds, or something butterfly friendly, or even something that produces human food.... or at least can be used as a fence post or build a garden bed with if she decides to cut it down again...

Always nice to have something that checks several boxes....

What about simply making a plan to cut the lower limbs???

I have three Buhr oaks on my property, which I started from acorns. One is twenty-five high in just a few years, the other two, 10' high. They will easily compete with anything, anywhere, but will get to be a 100' high eventually. Just a thought. I would have a problem with mulberry because although the fruit is great, the mess and the wasps and creatures attracted to clean up the fruit dropping (numerous) must be taken into consideration. Stick with a hardwood, any oak, maple, etc. Cheers! PS. Stone's suggestion of a black walnut is of merit, but nothing will grow underneath it if that is a concern.

FWMOSHER, Is your soil alkaline?

I don't know if you're into this kind of thing, but how about an espaliered (trellised) fruit tree? You can grow it right up against a wall or fence. As a bonus, your daughter will get a kick, and an education, watching the fruit grow.

Thanks for the suggestion. That would be nice but not my thing. I like BIG trees

I think your choice of a Shumard Oak would be a good one. In my experience the red oaks seem to be faster growers than the white oaks.

Yeah I've read that if I get a true Shumard Oak, it should be successful in alkaline soil. Around here Pin Oaks only last 30-50 years. I just feel that I need something fast growing to at least keep up with the surrounding 7-8 year old trees.