8 Trees You’ll Regret Planting in a Small Yard, Experts Say

Silver Maple

Both experts we spoke to agree—silver maple isn't a good fit for a small garden. "[They] have expansive roots that can damage nearby driveways and sidewalks," says Steve Conaway, director of horticulture at New England Botanical Garden. "Their branches are notorious for breaking free in storms due to brittle wood."

Additionally, when mature, their canopy can reach 40 to 60 feet wide, notes Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University Extension. In smaller yards, this can easily extend into a neighbor's property—a real problem, considering how brittle silver maple branches can be.

Instead, these trees thrive in wide open spaces, like parks. They need consistently moist soil, so they thrive along rivers and streams.

Black Walnut

Growing a black walnut tree is a bad idea for most yards—especially small ones. Its root system emits a toxic chemical called juglone. "It lingers in surrounding soil and stunts or kills other plant species," says Conaway. "In nature, the tree can prevent competing plants from establishing nearby, but in a small garden, it can make your other plantings suffer."

Langelo notes that these plants thrive along riverbanks or floodplains. "They perform well on farms," she says. "Black walnuts require consistent moisture. Think of it this way: moist and well-drained but not waterlogged."

Weeping Willow

Weeping willows are beautiful, but they can be problematic in small yards. "Their water-hungry roots seek out consistent moisture," says Conaway. "[They] can wreak havoc on sewer lines, septic systems, and gaps in foundations."

Additionally, while they create a lot of shade, their branches are prone to breaking and shedding, which can damage your home and nearby homes as well. Ultimately, these plants are better suited to natural areas near ponds and streams.

American Sweetgum

Tired of spiked gumballs in your yard? Then give American sweetgum trees a skip. Especially in smaller yards, these droppings can quickly pile up, making it difficult to walk around—and creating a constant need for cleanup.

"Popular fastigiate cultivars such as Slender Silhouette are the exception—with extremely narrow growth habits, the trees can be fit into smaller spaces," says Conaway. "As they mature, they barely widen their branches, creating tall exclamation points on the landscape."

Bald Cypress

Bald cypress may look beautiful, but its extensive root system is a major problem for tiny gardens. "In wetter soils it may even form knees—woody adaptations to growing in swampy sites," says Conaway. "These aren't ideal for small domestic spaces where they create trip hazards and obstacles for lawnmowers."

However, if you like the look of these trees, there are other options. He recommends columnar or dwarf varieties, which can fit into smaller spaces without creating any issues.

Bur Oak

Like many other trees on this list, bur oak's deep, wide-spreading roots won't mesh well with small yards. In addition, Langelo notes, its canopy reaches 60 to 80 feet, and the tree can grow to 100 feet wide. At this size, it will stretch into your neighbor's yard, which can create all sorts of issues down the line.

Bur oak thrives in rural areas—think prairies and savannas—where it has room to grow.

Lombardy Poplar

This tree can create a few issues for gardens—for one, its roots spread widely. It's also "fast-growing, with a short lifespan, [and is] prone to many diseases," says Langelo.

Lombardy poplars are better suited to farm areas, and do especially well along ponds, lakes, or other areas that are consistently moist.

Cottonwood

Cottonwood tree roots are fast-growing and aggressive, and can even lift up sidewalks. "They also release messy cotton," adds Langelo. "When mature, their canopy can be 50 to 80 feet wide, potentially extending over the home's roof."

They're more at home in low-lying, wet areas, such as rivers, streams, or floodplains.