I've scoured the internet for a tree that has minimal droppings and have come up with two options: Crape Myrtle and Chinese Pistache (Keith Davey cultivar). I've been waiting 3 years for the Keith Davey (guaranteed male, so no fruit) and have pre-ordered two hopefully to get this fall. Are there any others? I've had several rental houses with very nice trees, but the berries or acorns they dropped were atrocious. Ideally, I'd like a couple Live Oaks so big that no grass grows underneath and the trash that the oak produces doesn't matter all that much, but time is a bit of an issue for that. I'd like to have a tree that I can enjoy when I retire rather than when my grandkids retire... I do have an Oak growing for them though.
Chonks
Hmm.
You're asking for a lot, alas. Trees all drop trash. But, as you note some are worse than others. Where in Florida are you? That might matter because soils can vary all over the place. I hear Crape Myrtles are really REALLY aggressive in the Southeastern U.S., so you might want to think twice about one of those. You might want to consider a "Fruitless Mulberry" but it's deciduous and drops lots of leaves in the fall and also has lots of pollen in the spring. But it's a great shade tree.
You're asking for a lot, alas. Trees all drop trash. But, as you note some are worse than others. Where in Florida are you? That might matter because soils can vary all over the place. I hear Crape Myrtles are really REALLY aggressive in the Southeastern U.S., so you might want to think twice about one of those. You might want to consider a "Fruitless Mulberry" but it's deciduous and drops lots of leaves in the fall and also has lots of pollen in the spring. But it's a great shade tree.
I don't know if this helps, but I went with a Chinese Pistache in my parking area.
The Bradford Pears that were planted long ago when the housing tract was new resulted in some major rooting problems that disrupted the sidewalks.
My city - Corona, Ca - only approves a certain list of trees as replacements, and Chinese Pistache was on it.
Their focus is for the roots to not go wide, and minimal droppings to deal with I believe.
Previous tree had big leaves - easier to rake up.
The Chinese Pistache - smaller leaves - easier to just let them blow away.
I liked that the Chinese Pistache also has more seasonal color.
But in that respect, it is also bare at the moment - leafing should start again soon.
Pics below of when it was planted, and then 3 years later where it was about a year ago in 2022. and also when it was bare, which is every winter in my area - 9/10 growing zone.
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The Bradford Pears that were planted long ago when the housing tract was new resulted in some major rooting problems that disrupted the sidewalks.
My city - Corona, Ca - only approves a certain list of trees as replacements, and Chinese Pistache was on it.
Their focus is for the roots to not go wide, and minimal droppings to deal with I believe.
Previous tree had big leaves - easier to rake up.
The Chinese Pistache - smaller leaves - easier to just let them blow away.
I liked that the Chinese Pistache also has more seasonal color.
But in that respect, it is also bare at the moment - leafing should start again soon.
Pics below of when it was planted, and then 3 years later where it was about a year ago in 2022. and also when it was bare, which is every winter in my area - 9/10 growing zone.
Certain crepe myrtles send out rhizome roots and if left unchecked you will have a kazillion little baby crepe myrtles. A backhoe was the only way to trim it. Right outside our house we have a hemlock tree. No droppings, the birds eat the seeds and no maintenance except to trim it away from the house. Bradford pears can pollinate your good cultivar fruit trees and make them sterile, so be careful if that is in the running.
I have Natchez Crape Myrtles, and they drop litter year round, I'm in zone 7.
If they are away from patios, decks etc the droppings will not be an issue.
Billions of flower petals that when wet stick to the surface.
Billions of seed husks that drop the remainder of the year size of a pea, and hang on and drop all winter long.
Leaves are small slender 2 -3 inch long and are not an issue in a lawn.
If they are away from patios, decks etc the droppings will not be an issue.
Billions of flower petals that when wet stick to the surface.
Billions of seed husks that drop the remainder of the year size of a pea, and hang on and drop all winter long.
Leaves are small slender 2 -3 inch long and are not an issue in a lawn.
Whoo, baybay, I can understand about acorns, though.
A friend had a yard in Ohio with mighty oak trees, that dropped acorns by the bushel, and if you weren't careful, you'd be hit with this barrage of them from the lawn mower. Bam bam bam bam etc, Yike A Rooney!
A friend had a yard in Ohio with mighty oak trees, that dropped acorns by the bushel, and if you weren't careful, you'd be hit with this barrage of them from the lawn mower. Bam bam bam bam etc, Yike A Rooney!
Speaking of things underfoot, don't plant a Southern Lego tree, commonly called a sweetgum.
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@DoomsDave you told me to pay a pic of my Pistache when I got it, so here it is. Not a great pic. Green tree on green background and all. Maybe I can do better in the sun tomorrow.
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