Where do aspen trees grow in North America?
Quaking aspen has the widest tree range in North America, from the tree line across Alaska to Labrador down to Iowa and Pennsylvania and through much of the Rocky Mountains. Bigtooth aspen ranges from Manitoba and Iowa east to the Atlantic Ocean.
Why are aspen trees dying in Michigan?
Aspen occupies much more acreage today than 200 years ago because of the cutting and burning that took place a century ago. Aspen acreage is now declining throughout much of the Great Lakes states because of natural succession. Michigan lost nearly a half-million acres of aspen forest type between 1980 and 2009.
Why don't aspen trees grow in urban areas?
However, it adds that aspen are generally difficult to grow in the urban landscape because the soils they like are rare and because of their susceptibility to disease and insects. In recent years, aspen stands in several Rocky Mountain states and Canadian provinces have suffered a sudden die-off.
What kind of soil do aspen trees like?
The tree grows best in the "moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil found at higher elevations," writes Robert Cox, horticulture agent at the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Aspen do not tolerate shade and can sprout in full sunlight.
What states do aspen trees grow in?
Most of the aspen forest in the United States is found in Utah and Colorado, though it is also scattered throughout all of the western states. Aspen provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including hare, moose, black bear, elk, deer, ruffed grouse, migratory birds, and a variety of smaller animals.
What zones do aspen grow in?
Aspen is native to the west and east coasts of the United States, according to the University of Connecticut, and is hardy to USDA hardiness zones 1 to 7, which includes most parts of central eastern California. Plant it wherever you have full sun and moist, well-drained soil, preferably near water.
Can aspen trees grow in the Midwest?
In Iowa, quaking aspen is very common in eastern Iowa and found locally in southern and western Iowa along the major river valleys. Because of intensive competition from other species in Iowa, it is most common on dry, upland soils. Habitat: Grows in open woods and moist prairies or woodland edges.
How do aspen trees survive winter?
While winter temperatures are often below that range, quaking aspens take advantage of sunlight filtering through leafless branches to warm trunks. So, even if the temperature hovers around freezing, the sun-warmed trees can be harnessing energy.
Is quaking aspen native to Michigan?
Aspen is an early successional species that is within many different forest types. Aspen forests are most often found in northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula and are dominated by trembling (quaking) aspen and big-toothed aspen, both of which are shade-intolerant, fast growing, and short-lived.
Should I plant aspen trees in my yard?
It is too hot, too dry, and the soil pH is too high. These conditions will only shorten their life even more, while opening them up to the susceptibility of diseases and insects. I would not recommend planting an aspen in your yard.
Can aspen trees grow in Chicago?
Aspen is one or the toughest and most adaptable species of trees. It grows in higher elevations and lower elevations, in the hottest and coolest temperatures, and in the wettest and driest climates. It is truly a tree with grit, but we should note, that it does not grow naturally in the Chicago area.
Can aspen trees grow in Indiana?
Large tooth aspen is found throughout the state of Indiana, while its close relative, the quaking aspen is found mostly in the northern portions of the state. This species is found from Nova Scotia west through southern Canada reaching to northeastern North Dakota.
Are birch and aspen the same?
Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Although aspen are somewhat similar in appearance to some species of birch, birch trees belong to an entirely different family of trees. Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel.
What kills aspen trees?
The right way to remove aspen is to kill the tree and the root system with an herbicide and cut it down after it is dead. To kill aspens apply the herbicide Roundup to the base of the trunk. Drill a series of holes into the trunk at a 45 degree angle and fill the holes with concentrated herbicide.
How quickly do aspen trees grow?
Growth Rate This tree grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year.
What is special about aspen trees?
Aspens grow all the time—even in winter. Beneath the thin, white outer bark layer is a thin green photosynthetic layer that allows the tree to create sugars and grow when other deciduous trees would otherwise be dormant. During hard winters, the green, sugary layer provides necessary nutrients for deer and elk.
Where can I find aspen trees?
The aspen is found across North America due to its ability to grow in virtually all mountain vegetation zones. According to the U.S. Forest Service, aspen forest is most common in Colorado and Utah at elevations between 5,000 and 12,000 feet. Advertisement.
Why are aspen trees so hard to grow?
However, it adds that aspen are generally difficult to grow in the urban landscape because the soils they like are rare and because of their susceptibility to disease and insects.
Will aspen trees die in 2090?
In recent years, aspen stands in several Rocky Mountain states and Canadian provinces have suffered a sudden die-off. According to a Reuters story from Sept. 4, 2009, scientists at the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Moscow, Idaho, predict the near total disappearance of aspen in the Rocky Mountain region by 2090, ...
The Trees
Distribution
- Quaking aspen has the widest tree range in North America, from the tree line across Alaska to Labrador down to Iowa and Pennsylvania and through much of the Rocky Mountains. Bigtooth aspen ranges from Manitoba and Iowa east to the Atlantic Ocean. Quaking aspen grows on a wide range of soils but does best on well-drained loams. Northern Michigan pro...
Ecology
- Aspen forests are early successional types adapted to catastrophic disturbances such as fire and windstorm. Survival strategy is to aggressively reproduce, grow fast, live a short time and die a quick death. Aspen trees are very intolerant of shade and cannot reproduce in shade, even the shade of their own canopy. Young aspen stands are dominated by aspen species, but the forest …
Management and Silviculture
- Clearcutting is the primary harvest system employed to regenerate aspen stands because it is the only one that works. Sometimes only a few well-spaced healthy aspen trees in the mature stand are needed to regenerate aspen. Aggressive regeneration practices favor genetically superior clones. Areas with poor clones can be converted to other forest types. Historically, natural stand…
Tree Health Issues
- Aspen is a supermarket for insects, diseases and wildlife. This is part of the nature of aspen. A few of the more prominent damaging agents are forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), large aspen tortrix (Choristoneura conflictana), Saperda borers (Saperda spp.), gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), conks (Phellinus tremulae et al.), root rot (Armillaria mellea et al.), Hypoxylo…