Where Are the TREES In Indy Suburbs?

[locean]

There are numerous factors at work here that explain the lack of trees...

Look to the zoning officials who approve subdivision plans--including mandatory trees, or lack of them.

Look to the builders who cut corners everywhere they can, including sodding yards and planting trees and shrubs.

Look to the pathetic homeowners who make no effort to landscape their lame yards once they move in.

[Future Trooper]

Plainfield is a suburb that has lots of trees. Some of the subdivisions have those little trees that are infront of every house while in a few others their are massive 60-90ft tall trees. Their is one tree in my backyard that is over a 100ft tall. In the more established older neighborhoods in town it's like you can't get enough of trees.

[Naptowner]

I've been spending a little time in Naperville and some of the other western suburbs lately, and I have to disagree that the 10 year old developments generally have mature trees, or that there are major climate or soil differences between here and there. I would agree that it seems like the local authorities have their act together much more when it comes to planning, in that it looks like they require a little more from the builder. As domergurl said, this is a function of the sprawl having been around there for decades.

[wolfmomma30]

Ive noticed that too, and wondered also if it was from building on corn fields. The further you get out of the cities you will see them more. Greenwood though has alot of trees, same with mooresvilles older communities. I really haven't been much elsewhere so I cannot say if anywhere has them. Sorry, didn't want to seem biased.

[islandboo]

I'll add that our Westfield home (which is on old cornfield land) has 3 scraggly trees just like most of the others in our neighborhood. When we were building, we asked to be allowed to either take a credit in exchange for the landscaping or at least have the builder ignore the landscaping all together and let us put in the trees and shrubs we wanted, but they denied us and put in the trees they chose, including a very pretty crabapple which they unfortunately placed much too close to the house and which therefore needs to be hacked back viciously every couple of years.

[domergurl]

May I vent and say that I despise Bradford Pear trees???? Cheap, stinky and messy ... blech.

[GraniteStater]

It could be worse. They could have planted silver maple trees instead of bradford pears.. These trees grow in floodplain areas, but they were actually used commonly as a landscape tree in the KC metro area in the 60s and 70s. Every time a severe weather event came through or an ice storm massive limb damage would result because it is a softwood tree.
Good shade tree options that I recommend for a neighborhood setting would be: Pin Oak, White Oak, Red Oak, Sycamore, White Pine, Poplar, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, and Norway Maple.

[domergurl]

I should take a pic of the tree I can't identify in my yard. It's huge, non-flowering and it 's been a great shade tree. We also have a large birch tree, which is also wonderful, but it sheds all the time.

[rlowe87]

Check out the northeast side of Indianapolis. I live in Geist and I am scared for the house's structure every time it storms hard. I am surrounded by very old, very tall trees. I live in a "newly" developed area. If you look in Lawrence Township, you will also find lots of trees. It is like living in the woods. There are old homes and new homes to pick from.