Friend or Foe: What to Know About Osage Orange Trees
Osage orange, or Maclura pomifera, is a thorny tree found throughout the state of Missouri. Also referred to as horse apple, hedge apple, and Bois d'Arc, the Osage is easily recognized by its large, green, lumpy fruits. The controversial Osage orange has a long, valuable history with a potentially useful future for many property owners. Here's what to know about Osage orange trees.
Osage Orange Trees Have a History of Friend and Foe
The Osage orange tree is not native to Missouri. Instead, it originates from southern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and areas of east Texas. The tree came to grow in all parts of those states, but it was first found near Osage Native American settlements.
Osage Orange Trees as Friend
The early Native Americans esteemed the tree for its excellent wood, which made superior hunting bows. The tree wood was useful for war clubs, tomahawk handles, rope, and tannin.
Early settlers and pioneers found the wood of the Osage orange tree incredibly useful as well. The strength of its wood helped create valuable wagon wheel rims and hubs. As the frontier expanded, so too did the knowledge of the famous tree wood. Soon Osage orange trees were made into railroad ties and telegraph poles.
Finally, prairie settlers in the 1800s discovered Osage orange trees made the perfect hedge tree. Osage trees could grow into dense, thorny hedges to act as a fence to help keep cattle and other animals at bay. In 1879, Monroe County had an incredible 2,000 miles of Osage orange hedge rows.
Osage Orange Trees as Foe
Barbed wire became a cheap fence replacement in 1874, and the popularity of Osage trees quickly faded. Farmers and other property owners now viewed the tree as a liability rather than an asset. Osage orange trees needed trimming to help retain their hedge shape and to prevent uncontrolled spread. The trees also stole valuable water from crop land.
Lastly, the evolution of farming into a larger scale required the removal of the restrictive rows of Osage orange tree hedges.
Osage Orange Trees Can Still Serve a Purpose
Osage orange trees continue to grow in the wild and can be found in the few occasional remains of hedge rows. While some view the tree as an intruder to vast, open prairie lands, others feel their growth should be encouraged. Recent movements aim to plant more Osage orange trees.
Property owners may still find the trees to be useful. Many homeowners prefer to grow Osage orange trees in rows rather than shrubs to create a hedge. Their trunks are short and tend to branch off into multiple limbs. The right amount of trimming
encourages the trees to grow in a thick, bushy manner — the ideal hedge. Additionally, the thorns of the Osage tree may halt unwanted intruders.
Osage orange trees can grow in a variety of soil types but need full sun. The tree is a good choice for a hedge tree because of its relatively quick growth — up to two feet each year. If your property is larger, Osage oranges also make an effective wind barrier to help block frigid winter winds.
Osage orange trees can be prickly to work with, and the fruit produces a white sap. You may want to have a professional deal with pruning and trimming if you don't want to tangle with this infamous tree. An expert will be better equipped to shape the trees to the desired hedge formation.
Baumann Tree is your source for tree experts if you ever need to care for or remove Osage orange trees from your property. Call us, and we can answer your questions about the Osage orange and other trees that grow on your property.
Trees are a major part of the landscape throughout St. Louis, but it isn’t always obvious when a tree needs professional attention. A tree may look healthy from a distance while damaged limbs, excessive growth, decay, or structural problems are developing. Knowing what to watch for can help St. Louis property owners address tree problems before they lead to property damage, falling limbs, or the need for more extensive work. If you notice changes in the trees around your home or business, Baumann Tree provides professional Tree Service in St. Louis, MO to help determine what your trees need.
A tree does not have to be falling over to become a concern. Sometimes the first warning is a branch scraping the roof. Other times, it is a canopy that has grown so thick it overwhelms the yard, a limb hanging above the driveway, or a tree that simply does not look as healthy as it did a few years ago. Knowing when a tree needs attention can help St. Louis property owners address problems before they become much harder to manage. Baumann Tree provides tree service, tree removal, and tree trimming in St. Louis, MO for homeowners and property owners who want to take care of troublesome trees safely and effectively. For professional tree care, call 636-375-2812. When Your Trees Start Competing With Your Property Trees and homes share the same space, and eventually that can create conflicts. A tree that was small when a home was built may now stretch across the roof, crowd a fence, block a driveway, or extend branches toward neighboring property. Mature trees can be one of the best features of a St. Louis yard, but they also require more attention as they grow. Professional tree service in St. Louis, MO can help you determine what needs to be trimmed, what should be monitored, and when removal may be the better long-term solution. Instead of treating every tree the same way, Baumann Tree can evaluate the situation and recommend an appropriate approach for the property. A Tree Doesn't Have to Be Dead to Need Removal Many people associate tree removal with completely dead trees, but there are other reasons a tree may need to come down. Its location may have become problematic, the trunk may have developed structural weakness, storm damage may have compromised major limbs, or the tree may be declining to the point that keeping it creates an unnecessary risk. With tree removal in St. Louis, MO , the surroundings matter just as much as the tree itself. Homes, garages, fences, landscaping, sidewalks, and neighboring properties can all affect how a tree should be removed. Baumann Tree can assess the tree and surrounding area before determining how to approach the job. Warning signs worth paying attention to include a new or increasing lean, large dead sections in the canopy, cracks in major limbs or the trunk, decay, broken branches that remain lodged in the tree, or noticeable changes following severe weather. If a tree on your property has you wondering whether it is still safe to keep, call 636-375-2812 and have Baumann Tree take a closer look. Tree Trimming Is About More Than Making a Tree Look Neat Trimming can dramatically change the appearance of a property, but good tree trimming should accomplish more than creating a tidy canopy. Strategic trimming can remove problematic branches, create clearance around structures, address damaged growth, and help prevent certain limbs from becoming larger concerns later. For example, you may need tree trimming in St. Louis, MO if branches are beginning to hang over your roof, interfere with a driveway or walkway, rub against one another, block visibility, or create too much weight in a particular part of the canopy. The goal is not simply to cut branches back. Trees respond to pruning, which is why knowing which branches to remove—and which ones to leave—is important. Professional trimming helps address the immediate issue while taking the overall tree into consideration. Take Another Look After a St. Louis Storm Take Another Look After a St. Louis Storm Strong winds and thunderstorms can reveal weaknesses that were easy to miss beforehand. After severe weather, take a look at the trees around your home from a safe distance. A branch may be partially broken without falling, the canopy may look noticeably different, or a tree may appear to be leaning more than it did before the storm. Damage high in the canopy can also be difficult to judge from the ground. If something looks different, having it evaluated can be a much better option than waiting to see what happens during the next round of bad weather. Give Your Trees the Attention They Need Call a certified arborist promptly if you notice sudden canopy dieback from the top down, D-shaped holes in ash bark, wilting spreading across connected trees, dark streaking under oak bark, or shepherd's crook tips on ornamental pears or crabapples. Even when symptoms seem minor, a professional inspection is worthwhile. Most tree pests target stressed trees first, making consistent care essential to prevention. Protect Your St. Louis Trees With the Right Help Sometimes a tree needs a few carefully selected branches removed. Sometimes it has reached the point where removal makes more sense. And sometimes you simply need an experienced tree professional to help you figure out which option is right. For tree service, tree removal, and tree trimming in St. Louis, MO, contact Baumann Tree. The team can help you address overgrown, damaged, declining, or inconveniently located trees and keep your property looking its best. Call Baumann Tree at 636-375-2812 today to schedule tree service in St. Louis, MO.
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