Do elms make good street trees in sunny places in Philadelphia?
Will elm trees do well as new street trees in full sun, small tree wells in the city?
Answer
Elms would require more space so try trees that are more tolerant of smaller spaces such as acer rubrum (red maple), carpinus betulus `Fastigiata', Ginko biloba, Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis, Prunus sargentii, Sophora japonica, Tilia or zelkova serrata `Green Vase'. You can look these up on a computer and decide which ones you like. Good soil and attention to watering are important keys to success particularly in the city.