#1 Siberian Elm tree — Worst Tree in Ogden/Layton Utah
The Siberian elm (or chinese elm) tree is undoubtedly one of the toughest trees on the planet…so tough that it thrives in the deserts of Siberia with only an estimated 9 inches of rain fall a year. Travelers brought it to the US and then it migrated west on the railroads.
This tree thrives in low water conditions, usually growing in cracks or rocky soil or along fence-lines or the edges of houses. This tree is a super sniffer–meaning it will find water wherever it is and destroy anything in its path. This results in broken sewer lines, pushed up cement, broken water lines, roots in rain gutters, etc. I’ve even seen a Siberian elm root come up into a toilet in a home in Ogden Utah.
One Siberian Elm Means Thousands
Since the Siberian elm spreads thousands of seeds every fall (they blow up to a mile away), you will never be able to effectively control the spread of this invasive tree in your yard until you remove the tree and poison the stump. Even poisoned elm stumps are known to come back 6 months later and start growing a tree again. This tenacious tree is no good for homes and should be removed as soon as possible. Also the sooner you remove this tree the cheaper and better it is. On average, a Siberian elm growing in the Ogden or Layton Utah area will grow 8 feet per year. Enough said.
Verdict: Cut down and remove the Siberian elm as soon as possible
#2 Worst Trash Tree in Ogden/Layton Utah
The sumac tree is a close competitor to the Siberian elm, often growing 8 to 10 feet in a single summer. It is amazing how fast a seed can turn into a 6 inch thick tree. This can happen in just two or three. What’s worse is the female trees drop thousands of seeds in the fall. Here is a tree that is growing in someone’s grass in Ogden Utah after just a few weeks of germination.
Then if you don’t immediately use roundup and/or remove the baby tree, tap root included, you’ll get a very tall and wild tree in just a season or two. The thousands of seeds getting blown all over your lawn and the strong stink smell this tree produces makes this tree a top invasive and noxious tree for Ogden and Layton Utah and the surrounding areas. To be clear, the wild sumac that dots the lawns and yards of homes throughout Ogden and Layton Utah is the invasive version of the beautiful staghorn sumac that is commonly planted in ornamental gardens.
Verdict: Remove this Ogden/Layton invasive tree as soon as you can. The longer you let it grow, the faster it will spread.
#3 Box Elder — Worst Trash Tree in Ogden and Layton Utah area
Otherwise know as boxelder maple, this tree is a species of maple native to North America. The boxelder tree is a very soft wood, making it a prime candidate for falling over during a windstorm. What’s worse, female Box Elder trees attract thousands of Box Elder bugs. If you love red and black bugs in your house and covering window screens, then this tree is for you.
Like the siberian elm tree and sumac tree, the Box Elder female tree disperses thousands of helicopter-like seed pods every fall.
The boxelder maple tree is not as serious a threat as the siberian elm tree and sumac tree. It does not seem to spread nor grow at quite the rate of these other two invasive species. Many people like their boxelder trees and the yellow-red leaves they produce in fall. However, for most people, the box elder tree bugs, many seeds that this tree spreads and the dangerously soft wood (trees are known to fall and produce lot of debris and damage to structures) make this tree a less than ideal tree for Ogden and Layton Utah homes. Another consideration is to identify whether or not your tree is a female. If you have a male boxelder tree, you likely will not have the seed and bug problem, nor the rapid spreading problem.
Verdict: This is not a tree you have to rush to remove but you’ll be happier in the long run without this tree.