Horticulture News

DATE: February 1, 2008

HARDIN COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
201 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-9370

BY: Amy Aldenderfer
County Extension Agent for Horticulture

Austrees -- A Host Of Problems For A Small Price

Remember the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."?  The austree is being advertised as the perfect tree for all sites.  In reality there is no such tree of any type. 

The Austree is a hybrid in the poplar (Populus) group and like other members of this groups makes good pulp wood.  In my opinion nothing in this group has any place in any landscape where plants are put out for ornamental reasons. 

  1. These trees are water "loving" plants and can cause significant problems with sewer lines and septic systems.
  2. All poplars and willows drop leaves when we have a "two week drought" in the summer.
  3. All poplars and willows have relatively poor to no fall color.
  4. All poplars and willows form surface roots, especially on wet sites and clay soils. Surface roots cause problems with mowing and lift sidewalks.
  5. These plants do grow as rapidly as claimed but it should be noted that for all species, the faster the rate of growth, the weaker the wood (e.g. more storm damage).
  6. Weak wood leads to increased breakage from ice and wind (e.g. greater liability and property damage as well as the aggravation of picking up small branches).
  7. Members of this family are poor compartmentalizers. This results in greater internal decay (wood rot) when pruning or breakage occurs.
  8. Members of this family are shorter lived than similar sized trees. The hybrid poplars average less than 30 years.
  9. I have yet to meet or hear of a person with a 10 year old hybrid poplar that does not mumble about their trees poor qualities and wish that they had a more ornamentally attractive species.

My philosophy is that large trees are planted for future generations. Each of us is enjoying large trees planted by our grandparents generation.  Look at the big picture and plant for the long term, sustainable landscape, ESPECIALLY in urban areas where green space lost is green space gone forever.

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.  Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

Your Hardin County Extension Service has several lists of trees that grow well in Kentucky.  The multiple lists sort trees by mature size, fall color (or lack), deer resistance, and several other factors.  If you would like a list of trees for your garden, please contact me (Amy) by calling 270-765-4121 or you can email me at Amy.Aldenderfer@uky.edu

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.