15 trees you should never grow in your yard

Cottonwood (Populus deltoids) is a majestic, awe-inspiring tree when it matures.

But its roots can be problematic around house foundations and it releases cottony seeds in late spring/early summer that can be a nuisance if they get caught up in your window screens.

The trees are also messy, continually dropping leaves and sticks. Chalk this one up with the weeping willow: a fine tree in the country or along a waterway, but not necessarily in your yard.

Why not plant a tropical garden instead?

Black Locust (Robinia psuedoacacia) is a fast-growing hardwood tree with fragrant white flowers.

The wood is heavy and holds a lot of fuel value, so it’s a good tree to have around if you need firewood.

But it’s brittle and has sharp thorns. Also, black locust tends to seed itself a little too generously.

As a result, this tree is often a pest and considered invasive in some areas.

One thing we don’t need over the long, hot summer is a tree that holds ‘fuel value’, especailly during the bushfire season.

Leyland cypress (Cupressus x leylandii) will give you impressive size in a short period of time.

And, it’s thick and evergreen, so many people like its ability to provide privacy.

Unfortunately, it soon becomes too big for most home landscapes.

It’s also prone to wind damage, disease and drought.

Size may become a big problem.

Why not try these landscaping tips to help you make the most of your outdoor space?

Russian olive (Eleagnus angustifolia) is tough.

A little too tough, meaning you can’t kill it.

With the silvery white foliage, that might not seem like such a bad thing, but Russian olive is a thug.

The fruit is eaten by birds and distributed far and wide.

Then the trees sprout into thickets that crowd out other plants.

Cut them down and they continue to resprout, making them an invasive pest that should not be sold or planted.

If you already have invasive plants in your garden, check what can stay and what must go before you pull them all up.

Norway maple (Acer platanoides) was overplanted in the U.S. in the ’60s as a street tree when Dutch elm disease decimated the elm population.

It’s a pretty tree with nice fall foliage, but Norway maples self-seed everywhere – to the point of being a pest.

And the heavy shade and shallow roots make it impossible to grow much of anything under them, so landscaping is a real challenge.

Find landscaping a challenge anyway? Here are four easy four easy landscaping projects you can get started on.

This article first appeared on The Family Handyman.