Have you heard about the new Moraine locust? It’s the quick-growing shade tree recently developed by the Siebenthaler Company at their Moraine Nurseries in Dayton, Ohio.
The parent tree has increased 16″ inches in diameter in 15 years—a more rapid rate than the soft maple or Chinese elm.
Disease-resistant, thornless and seedless, this locust has improved foliage which stays on the tree longer in the fall.
It is round-headed when young but tall and vase-shaped when older, attaining a height of 80′ to 100′ feet.
The small leaflets which drift down to the lawn between blades of grass require little fall clean-up.
This quality may make it a successor to the American elm. Since it is propagated from male trees only, the seeding nuisance season of the elm is eliminated.
Hardy Moraine Locust
The mature tree is wide-spreading like a stately old elm, its branches arching upward and outward, easily reaching over the tops of two-story houses without obstructing the view or affecting air circulation.
Like honey locusts, which are native from New York to Minnesota and from Texas to Ontario, the hardy Moraine locust will withstand similar extremes of temperature and drought or flood.
Parent trees are native to the Western Plains, where the rainfall is light, yet the trees will thrive in poorly drained soils. Sunny, exposed situations are preferable, although the tree grows well in almost any soil.
The Moraine locust is hard-wooded and is expected to suffer little damage from wind or snow. It may bend under heavy strain but rarely does it break or split.
One honey locust in Dayton, which was recently cut down, showed 327 annual rings; there is every reason to believe that the Moraine locust will also be long-lived.
Beneficial Effects on Lawns
Of special interest to homeowners is its beneficial effect on lawns. Because of its vaselike form and fine foliage, enough light filters through to permit the growth of an excellent lawn while at the same time providing adequate shade to prevent the growth of crabgrass.
The tree’s growth can be accelerated by feeding, but since it is a legume, its demands are slight, and it does not rob grass of nitrogen. Its foliage is dark green and finely divided; only sterile flowers are borne.
The tree stands pruning well, but little is necessary since the lower branches self-prune as the top grows wider. This makes the Moraine locust especially desirable for narrow street planting or for small properties. as sufficient clearance can be maintained for any type of traffic.
44659 by John Siebenthaler