permaculture

[Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

At 10:19 AM 11/14/02 -0600, you wrote:
> It is as long lived as many deciduous shade trees, maple for one.

Larry's correct here to some extent.  Popplers are vigorous sprouters from 
the root, in fact a small patch of them is typically all a clone of one 
pioneer tree.  To that extent they are surly long lived and persistent. As 
far as maples, the soft species are indeed short lived and prone to 
shedding limbs, in fact I consider them a very poor choice for landscape 
trees for this reason.  The house I rent has three of them around it, one 
of which will surely smash up the roof at some point.  The hard sugar 
maples on the other hand are very long lived and durable trees.  I have 
seen one patch of old growth with three giant maples, truly awesome 
trees.  1.5 meter DBH!


Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM