I just hit 500 trees planted in my own backyard and it's a total mess

Started five years ago with a few oaks and maples, now my quarter acre in Dayton looks like a jungle. The count surprised me because I never planned it, just kept adding a few each season. My wife says we can't walk to the shed anymore without ducking under branches. It matters because I thought more trees always meant better, but now I see how spacing and species mix really change everything. Has anyone else planted way too many and had to fix it later?

4 comments

4 Comments

angelaw782mo ago

Sounds like my attempt at a veggie garden (which is now just a weird, tall lettuce jungle). I clearly don't know when to stop either.

reesej272mo ago

Oh man, my buddy did that with pines. He had to hire a guy with a small tractor just to clear paths again. It got real wild real fast.

the_leo1mo ago

Funny you mention that, because the thing nobody talks about is how these overgrown plants mess with your pipes. I had a friend who planted some leylandii near his house, and the roots found their way into the sewer line. Cost him like three grand to get it dug up and replaced. He said the plumber told him roots will travel way further than you'd think just looking for water. So now when I see a jungle like that, I don't just think about clearing paths, I worry about what's happening underground.

paige_owens52mo ago

Honestly this feels like a life thing. We just keep adding stuff without a plan until it's a problem, like my closet or phone photos. Maybe it's just me but seeing a clear space again is the best feeling.