I started two catalpa trees from seed last year and it's now about 18" tall. It is about 6 feet away from the side of my neighbor's driveway. I would like to know if that is very close to the driveway. I have seen old catalpa trees on lawns by the street. However, I don't have any information about their root system.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

Merry Christmas!

I have concrete out in the front of my driveway 100 feet from the nearest tree with cracks starting in it.

For some reason they come by and repave the interstate and regular roads every few years also. Pavement does not last forever.

Is that just THE spot for it?

Neat trees btw.

I'll transplant them in spring. Should be fine right?

fyi
Below is where I got the seeds from. It's just about 3-4 miles from my house.

at this time.. the plant is totally dormant.. so it can take just about anything .. except for leaving it on the driveway for a few days ...

dig them up.. cut any damaged roots .. tap root is irrelevant ... and replant properly for your soil.. mulch.. water them in .. and then dont water again until the soil dries in what.. june or july ... advise if you need info on planting in clay ...

been wondering where you have been.. glad to see you stop back in..

happy new year ..

ken

I had a knee operation back in Aug 3. I had a bone protrusion below my knee cap due to too much sports activity in the days. The doctor shaved it off. I'm feeling better now and hopefully to get back in sports next year. I had this pain since 2005 but it was the worst this July.

One nice thing about Catalpas is that they make a great shade tree in northern climates partly because they drop their leaves all at once with the first hard frost. Thus you get instant solar gain when the weather is cooling off. I would rather have a Catalpa than the large Pin Oak that is in the southeast position from my house. That dang Pin Oak holds on to leaves forever, AND it's messy too.

+oM

So the question now is: is it fine to transplant the young tree now while it's dormant? We've been getting an average temps of 30-35F.

+oM

They are nice trees and all but their larger leaf is a PITA to mulch, the seed pods are hideous in fall, fall color is terrible, structure is typically poor and they suffer from disease in the midwest to the point where no one really grows them anymore.

I'd chose the space for at least 30 other hardy trees in place of this one.

Its just me though...

I think the Catalpa tree is one of the most under rated tree for use in the landscape. Not only does it have a very attractive shape, in the spring it is very pretty when it is in bloom. The flowers are shaped like orchids, and have a very sweet pleasant aroma. SO in my opinion the positive well out weigh the large beans that form. (They are easily mulched up with the mower.)

You can see these at least 80 year old trees on Google Street View at 817 South Webster Road New Haven Indiana.

would most likely heave out of the ground in late winter or spring ...

transplant time was a few weeks either side of 10/1 ... with reduced odds the further you go into nov ... lets be realistic neil.. it january ...

ken

Personally I love having a naturally, decidously shaded parking area in the summer and don't care about the dormant trees in the winter. This despite the bird nest that is always placed just above your hood and windshield and the rain of sap/aphid poop during the summer.

Beeone, lots of leaf litter and seed pods are bad enough, but don't you think the neighbor might have
something to say about the brittle limbs coming down onto his car during storms or just about
anytime?

I agree that talking to the neighbor is a good idea when the proper tree for the application is chosen,
but I'm not sure this is the tree for that location. And, unless the yards are small, I'm not convinced
that the location is even a good idea for a tree (unless the neighbor really WANTS a tree there too).