I would choose the Willow oak. I love oaks, that's my reason for choosing the Willow oak. I think it will live longer. In m y experience oaks provide more shade than most maples. Sugar Maples are better than Silver and red maples for longevity. It is hard to beat the fall colors of some maples, though. I guess a good variety of maples and oaks if you have the space is best. However, I choose Willow oak over any Maple.

Yeah, I wish I had the space for both because then the decision would be a lot easier. Sugar Maples are slower growers. If it wasn't for that, it would be considered as well.

This post was edited by thapranksta on Tue, Oct 22, 13 at 12:07

Don't count out Sugar Maple. From what I've seen (here at GW and elsewhere), the better cultivars (i.e., faster growing in this case) can grow about as fast as a Red Sunset Acer rubrum. Look at 'Bonfire', 'Bailsta' (sold as 'Fall Fiesta'), 'Commemoration', and 'Legacy' for faster growing sugar maples. All can *almost* keep up with a red maple's growth rate, more or less.

As an added bonus, they're all more heat tolerant varieties, which matters in Tennessee.

I'd lean to the Willow Oak over the Red Maple. It make a dependable quick-growing quality tree. Small leaves and acorns also help with low-maintenance.

I bought a Fall Fiesta from b&b 3 years ago and its growing just over a 1' a year and thats a b&b plant.

This is much faster growing than a Red Sunset for sure.

Yeah I'm with them, I'd go with the willow oak for sure. I think the oak is a more graceful tree and it has the capability of a taller crown which makes for grass growing more easily underneath.

The oak. Oaks produce acorns, food for a number of wildlife, including squirrels, and I like squirrels. That said, some people do not.

Richard.

Squirrels are nice. However I do have fruit trees so their company isn't always desired. lol.

Question: Would both of these trees need to be considerably spaced from a patio? And if so, how much would be best?

'squirrels are nice'...to eat?
Since moving to a 5 acre poplar (for now) wood, I have been eyeing the fat tree rats in the locale and pondering winter pot-roasts.
Would you? Could you?

I will certainly be looking out for the scavenging muntjacs infesting the wetlands.....along with the horrid little water deer (tusks? Bambi never had 'em)

Ah yes....but I can't see me stalking and felling a cow with my trusty Black Widow (catapult) or a deer, to be fair. Only farmers or crims tend to have guns in the UK - although one of my boys did buy some throwing axes........

I wouldn't eat a squirrel for the reasons you describe....tree RAT. ;-)

Ah, but these are not our scrappy urban squirrels but healthy, well fed rural types.

Probably better to stick to rabbits (although there are many noisy pheasants nearby).....

Will Willow Oak cause damage to a patio if planted 20 feet away?

Yes