Should we plant an oak or a maple?

We're landscaping - should we plant an oak or a maple? We live in Eastern KS and have lots of wind. We had a red oak that snapped off (it was about 3 inches in diameter and fully leafed out) during some 50 mph winds today. We have quite a bit of clay soil in our yard and need an expert opinion of what would survive and grow best in our yard.

Should we plant an oak or a maple?
One of the most popular trees for any American backyard is the oak tree because of its sturdy structure. It makes a great place to get shade in the summer and is always hardy even in the coldest winter seasons. There are so many different varieties of the oak tree that it may seem impossible to decide which one is best for your autumn landscape. Choosing an oak tree for your autumn landscape is as simple as deciding what type of foliage you would like included in the plan because oak trees are normally hardy in almost any climate zone in North America. Pin Oak trees usually turn a deep red in the fall while White Oak and Northern Red Oaks usually turn a deeper reddish brown color.





While the oak tree will usually turn colors later in the fall season, if you are looking for an [autumn landscape tree]that turns colors earlier in the season, you may want to look for a Maple Tree. These trees grow extensively throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States, but can grow well through much of North America. The most popular Maple Trees are the Sugar Maple, the Norway Maple and the Red Maple. As far as color is concerned, the Maple Tree can be tricky because it really depends on the intensity of heat and humid approaching the autumn season. The Sugar Maple tree can produce leaves that are a light to medium yellow-orange color all the way to a deeper red, depending on environmental issues like soil type, the change of temperature and even the amount of rainfall for the season.
Reply:I also live in eastern KS. I believe either would grow well for you. Your choice needs to be based on preference. The maples grow faster, and your fall color is dramatic depending on the variety, especially sugar maples. When I lived in the STL area, we had a silver maple that grew relatively quickly and provided great shade, and it did split off during a pretty intense storm-we lost about a third of the spread, but it survived. Also, be careful of proximity to buildings (foundations). A silver maple planted between 2 homes ( approx. 25' apart) damaged the foundation of my in-laws' home-the roots pushed into the concrete until it cracked the foundation.





I am no expert, this is just my opinion. I believe oaks' roots run deeper that maples in general, which would perhaps help them to withstand wind better as opposed to being uprooted.





I have learned since I moved here a few years ago that I personally don't care for pin oaks. I inherited several well established pin oaks which provide great shade and privacy (they are about 15-20 years old), BUT I hate the spring pollen-green dust coats everything. They don't drop all of their leaves until the new spring buds force them off. You rake all through the fall, and then again in the spring. And I absolutely hate the acorns! The squirrels, however, love them,and will be constantly digging up your lawn and garden in the fall, burying them, and then again in the spring/summer looking for them.





Just read all you can about varieties before choosing as a tree can be a big investment.
Reply:Oak is sturdier than maple.





But, if you want a fast grower, maple is the winner. Oaks take YEARS to mature.
Reply:Oak over maple, maples are less durable, though faster growing; they will break off easier. Plus they produce copious amounts of seeds that readily sprout so you will have lots of maples everywhere you don't want them. Oaks make acorns but the varmits get most of them, and they don't sprout in every little crack like maples.


You might also want to consider sycamores if you want a fast growing big tree, not as sturdy as an oak but faster and the leaves and trunks are prettier than maples. I know they grow wild in NE OK, so should do well up there too.
Reply:I tried this before and had a tree snap off toward the direction of my house. Personally I would choose oaks because of your weather; they are much more robust and strenuous than maples. You can depend on its sturdiness and know that it wont be at stake due to the wind over there.
Reply:It really depends on the purpose you want the tree to serve. Oak trees take a while to get up in size, but they are fairly strong. Maple trees will grow faster, but then again, alot of times they have big leaves that shed in the fall. You need to find out what zone you are, and then you can decide from that list which tree to choose. For example, South Alabama is a zone 8, and certain plants will grow better here, I am not sure about Kansas. Also depending on where in your yard you want to plant, you need to find out how the root system is going to fan out, or down. You dont need a tree busting up the concrete in your driveway.
Reply:can't answer on the soil part, but you will reduce your risk of wind damage again by staking whatever you should decide to put there. a young tree could remain staked for several years until it is strong enough to withstand a hard wind. also remember long term, as it gets bigger, it will drop those pesky, mover mutilating acorns....
Reply:I am just a big maple fan myself, so have to vote for that. We have unbelievable wind here too, and I find the best thing to do is to drive a metal pole (heavy one) down into the dirt with a mallet or sledge as close as you can get to the main branch of the tree, without damaging the roots. Tie the tree to that, as opposed to the method where you take multiple stakes and ties and such and end up with some sort of tortured looking tree in your yard ;) Anyway, this does work fabulously, even in our strong wind. I did this with a tree in our yard last fall when I planted it and this particular redbud would look great right now if the late spring frost hadn't killed it! Hey, at least it is still poker straight and tall....just dead. Good luck with yours though!
Reply:I personally would go with Maple. We have lived at this current resident for 11 years now and we have at least 12 Maples, of different varieties of course. And the winds are an everyday thing here in SD. And I'm not talking about any mild breezes either. Our winds are daily and are at their mildest blowing around 20 - 25 mph and generally gusting up to 45 plus mph. So these trees are a pretty sturdy tree also. We planted them when they were about 1 1/2 inch in diameter and about 7 foot tall. We today have 30 foot tall trees shading our yards. And they have beautiful colors in the fall, which is what they are known for.





Below is a site you can look at some of our many trees, that I was able to get a "birds" eye view of them.

gina