approximate size of yard ...

pix?'

'fast growing trees are usually very problematic.. being weak wooded.. short lived.. etc .. i can recommend no tree marketed as fast growing ...

oak can grow 3 to 5 feet a once they get moving ..

all deciduous trees drop leaves.. not sure you will find any evergreen shade trees for WI ..

all trees drop seeds... acorns for oaks.. production is variable year to year.. based on plant culture variable [drought, severe winter...water..soil.. etc] ...culminating with mast years.. when they make what seems like millions...

tree time is counted in decades .. i suspect the old woman next door will be long gone before your tree is big enough to problematic ...

large transplants take longer to establish or recover form the transplant...and smaller trees often recover..establish and outgrow the larger more expensive transplant in 5 to 10 years ..

the 6 foot bare root oaks i planted 23 years ago.. are now around 30 feet tall .. and in 20 more years.. will be 60 feet tall ... trees never really stop growing ...

ken

Kentucky Coffeetree such as Espresso, True North or Decaf.

" trees never really stop growing ... "

While that statement is true in theory, it is not true in the implication that trees will continue to grow significantly taller throughout their lifespan. Trees do have a mature height genetically programmed into them. Otherwise, we would have 60-70' tall Japanese maples or 50 foot tall crabapples! So while height will be limited eventually by genetics and environment, other parts of the tree will continue to grow - trunk girth, canopy spread, the branch development, etc. They also do not grow at the same rate throughout their lives. Some grow at a faster rate when young while others may produce an accelerated growth rate as they mature. Simply assuming a 10 year old tree will double in height by the time it is 20 years old (or triple in 30 years) is overly simplistic and ignores any variation by species.

Thank you for your answers! To be more clear, I'm looking for a deciduous tree, I do expect some clean up of leaves, etc. I'm looking for one that doesn't drop lots of pods, nuts, etc. I'm aware that trees have a range of genetic height that they will reach. When looking at garden center information, in the description they will say "fast growing". I think some trees grow faster than others. We are retired people and hope to live in this house for at least 15 years so probably won't see the tree come to full height, either. We live in a beautifully tree-ed neighborhood with large old trees.

yellow buckeye. The squirrels will remove the fruit for you.. hopefully.

Determine what your requirements are. Mature size.......spring/summer flowers?.......stunning fall color?.....no extraneous debris, etc. Then visit your local garden center early next spring to see what they have available and that suits your growing conditions.

Is there a reason not to plant a sugar maple?

Linden is one I have a couple of.

sugar maple or Japanese maple ( my favorite!)

Maple for me, hands down!

White Ash

They griw fast, are tall and straight, have a nice silvery bark and have a tap root that rubs noses with satan they go so deep. No being blown out of the ground by wind.

I got one my yard with a kids swing on it. Iconic.

Certainly not ash until the emerald ash borer is under control.

Ash trees in my neighborhood are dying steadily. All of them. So sad.

Magnolia trees are beautiful and should grow in your climate. We have a beautiful Chinese Chestnut in our yard, but it will drop nuts in fall.. but as others have said every tree will drop something 😊