Illinois Trees This Fall: Experts Warn Against Planting Only Maples

Urbana, IL – Illinois homeowners considering a new tree this fall may want to look beyond maples, as an Illinois Extension horticulture educator says greater species diversity can help protect neighborhoods from future pests and diseases.

According to University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Chris Enroth, maples are attractive landscape trees, but planting them too heavily can create risks when a destructive insect or disease targets a particular species.

Enroth pointed to previous losses involving American chestnut and elm trees as examples of what can happen when a once-common tree encounters a devastating threat. He also highlighted the Asian long-horned beetle, an invasive pest capable of attacking maples and other hardwood trees.

The insect is not currently established in Illinois, Extension noted, but it remains a potential threat to maple trees nationwide.

Instead of eliminating maples entirely, Enroth recommends increasing variety in urban and residential landscapes. His alternatives include white oak, bur oak, black gum, tulip poplar, sweetgum, bald cypress, Kentucky coffeetree, American beech, American sycamore and hackberry.

The advice comes as Illinois moves into the fall planting season, when homeowners may be selecting trees for yards and community landscapes.

Tree diversity does not eliminate every risk. Extension notes that all tree species can face diseases, insects or other problems. A wider mixture, however, can reduce the chance that one species-specific threat will dramatically affect an entire neighborhood canopy.

Residents unsure what species are already common in their area can survey nearby trees before selecting a new one. Illinois Extension also recommends contacting a local Extension office for help identifying trees.