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Pros and cons of the most common tree types:
Oak:
Pro: Can become magnificent in appearance when mature. Valuable wildlife food. There are also a huge number of Quercus species (600 in all)
Con: Many oaks are very slow growing and you may not live to see them reach full size. It is best to plant species either native to your area or at least that are native to some place with a similar climate. West Coast oaks will not fare well in the eastern US and vice versa.
Maple:
Pro: Easy to grow and can produce syrup
Cons: Weedy trees that self-sow vigorously and produce a problem with volunteer seedlings. Can be hard to garden under. Overplanted.
Ash:
Pro: Vigorous and easy to grow
Cons: Can produce large seed crops and volunteer seedlings. In the central US, ash borer has devastated many, especially F. pennsylvanica
Birch:
Pro: White-barked birches are sought after for landscaping. B. lenta is the source of birch beer.
Con: Most birches are cold-climate trees that do not like areas with hot, humid summers. B. pubescens is prone to borer attack in the US. As they grow naturally along bodies of water, their moisture requirements make them unsuited for laws.
Beech:
Pro: A beautiful forest tree that provides wildlife food in the form of its nuts
Con: Rarely planted due to its slow growth. F. grandifolia may take 40 years to reach a height of 30 feet. For this reason, most cultivated beeches are the faster-growing F. sylvatica.
