Aspen Tree Information: Aspen Tree Care
In both Canada and the northern United States, aspen trees are a common addition to landscapes. Although the trees are stunning with their white bark and vividly colored leaves in the fall, they can be picky in a few different ways. For more information on aspen trees, including landscape maintenance tips, continue reading.
Details of Aspen Trees
Growing aspen trees can present a number of challenges, one of which is their short lifespan. It is true that aspen trees in landscapes typically have a lifespan of only five to fifteen years. Usually, diseases and pests are to blame for this, which can be serious issues sometimes with no cure. Cutting down the offending tree is usually the best course of action if you notice your aspen getting sick or infested. You won’t be killing the tree, so don’t worry. Aspens have extensive subterranean root systems that constantly produce new suckers, which, given enough room and sunlight, will develop into massive trunks. Indeed, there’s a good chance that multiple aspens growing close to one another are actually components of the same organism.
The aspen tree’s root systems are an interesting feature. They enable the trees to withstand problems above ground, such as forest fires. It is estimated that one colony of aspen trees in Utah is over 80,000 years old. However, if you are growing aspen trees in a landscape, you most likely don’t want a colony that constantly produces new suckers. Installing a circular metal sheet around your tree, a few feet (1 m) away from the trunk and buried two feet (61 cm) into the ground, is the best way to stop this spread. Try pruning your tree down if disease or pests cause it to fall; new suckers should appear very quickly.
Common Types of Aspens
The following are some of the aspen trees that are more frequently seen in landscapes:
- Trembling aspen (Tremulus populus)
- Aspens from Korea Populus davidiana
- Aspen, common or European (Populus tremula)
- Populus sieboldii, or Japanese aspen
