Software
Houzz Logo Print
hapinesca

Tree recommendations for open field

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago



This is a horse pasture, we have 2 horses. The tree in the middle of the field died. It was not useful for shade for horses and was not nice to look at. I would love to plant live oak or something equally magnificent with beatiful crooked branches that provides shade.

This view is what I see from the kitchen and deck. The tree needs to grow medium to fast, and be tall and I do not want a willow or paper birch since we have them in other places.

I was thinking other options Japanese maple or magnolia. We live in ny zone 5b

could you recommend something? Thank You

Comments (13)

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Someone more knowledgeable should comment but I would just say to check out "horse friendly" trees. For instance I read that Oak trees are toxic to horses. By the way, beautiful land. I bet your horses are happier than many others.

    Anna Cunningham thanked User
  • 6 years ago

    I am sorry to say any tree you plant will take decades to get to the size of the tree that you lost.


    If you are willing to spend a thousand dollars plus, you may get something that you can see from your window immediately.


    There are many trees that will grow in the area. Maples, oaks, sweet gums. Sweet gums are fairly fast growing trees, and have beautiful fall color. If you want some thing really fast growing a weeping willow, however it may not be wet enough for the tree.


    A dog wood would add color but is a very slow growing tree. The horses would like a fruit tree.

  • 6 years ago

    Oak trees are toxic to horses and red maples are so toxic that we got rid of a red maple that was out by the road quite far from the paddocks. You will likely have to fence around anything you plant till it gets big. When the trees are small the horses may pick at the leaves and bark and use them as a scratching post.

  • 6 years ago

    Tulip tree checks all your boxes.

  • 6 years ago

    If you don’t mind that it will form a small grove, quaking aspens grow tall and the leaves shimmer with the slightest breeze. But one tree will become a family. :)

  • 6 years ago

    Open area like that makes an eventual big tree (or even a couple closely spaced) OK. Agree w/mad that tuliptree will grow really fast (mine's 50' in 15 yrs) -- too cold for live oak in z5b. But you better protect whatever you plant from the horses.....

  • 6 years ago

    Catalpa would be pretty.

  • 6 years ago

    When I responded above I did not think of a Catalpa. In my opinion it is one of the prettiest native trees. Its spring blossom are very pretty, they smell wonderful, and the tree is a fairly fast growing, long lived tree.

  • 6 years ago

    Wow, I have a lot of choices now.


    Love Catalpa, and hickory and black walnut, beech and tulip. Although tulip is very upright with narrow spread. Is it possible at all to prune tulip trees to get multiple stone branches from narrow trunk? I would love a more spread out, but the tulip tree grows fast.


    It is a good choice to give a good thought! Gonna get to work :) Thank you!







  • 6 years ago

    Definitely do not plant black walnuts if you have horses. They produce a toxin called juglone, known to cause a particularly nasty laminitis in horses.

    Anna Cunningham thanked caryliss
  • 6 years ago

    Any tree that you plant in an open setting will spread out more than the tree in the picture, It will be more likely that you will have to prune up the tree that you plant to have your first permanent branches at the height that you want.

    Anna Cunningham thanked wayne
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    I agree. A tree in the open can develop a full canopy. Tulip is not a narrow tree.

    Anna Cunningham thanked Yardvaark