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Originally Posted by freeweed
To some degree yeah, they do pretty well out here. Natively they only grow in the river valleys and in the mountains - keep in mind that naturally, Calgary is just like Winnipeg. No trees and just grass everywhere. Conifers tend to do well in poor soil and varying moisture, and dry, cold winters. Chinooks don't tend to hurt them as much as deciduous trees either - the wax in the needles is amazing.
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It's sad that nobody plants Colorado Spruce any more, at least in the new suburbs, because peoples yards are too small and they don't want large trees. This is one thing I like about the Palliser-Oakridge area, which is heavily planted with spruce. That neighbourhood is especially beautiful in the winter.
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The ash trees being planted in Calgary aren't as stupid an idea as people think - at least in my neighbourhood they're a drought-tolerant ash and have done just fine this year, where we didn't see a drop of rain for 2 months. Not all ash trees are the same. In fact you can even find a variety of maple tree that grows fairly well here, which amazes people from out east (or anywhere maples normally grow, really) as maples usually AREN'T good in a semi-arid climate.
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I see a lot of carnage in the population of teenaged Ash trees on the west side of the city. For example, watch as you drive along Sierra Morena drive in Westhills, or around the Westside rec center (There are over a dozen dead trees along the North edge of the parking lot.) Also, I was noticing dying trees today along 85th Street and into the adjacent neighbourhoods. Ironically, the elms I saw seemed to be doing well.
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The single best tree for Calgary continues to be the aspen/poplar types planted heavily in the 1960s-1980s or so (from my random guessing on neighbourhood ages). These things grow like freaking weeds, and while they don't form the massive overhanging canopies that you see on the really nice elm-lined streets of Winnipeg - man those are cool - the aspen here can get the same height in only 30 years or so. Quite remarkable considering the climate.
Only problem is, they grow TOO well, and their roots are very annoying, so they clog sewer lines, crack sidewalks, and in general cause a lot of grief for the City. Hence the switch to the more well-behaved ash trees. Unfortunately the ash grow somewhat slower and are prone to disease.
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Agreed. My area of the city used to be carpeted in Aspen trees. They thrive like crazy here. As do Cottonwood poplars. The poplars get a bit of a bum rap, and the City has a web page that tries to counter some of the old arguments against poplars. ( See the link below, note that you have to click on the links at the left to navigate through their "FAQ".)
http://www.calgary.ca/portal/server.pt/g...ar+Misconceptions+About+Poplar+Trees.htm