It’s every DIY landscaper’s first instinct to opt for planting a tree in the yard, but while trees may seem like a low-maintenance no-brainer, there are some trees you don’t want anywhere near your property. Learn more about the trees that drip on cars, drop seeds and stinky fruit, and leave too much debris in your yard before you settle on the trees you plant. Trees are beneficial plants to foster in your yard, particularly for homeowners trying to cut down their carbon footprint. Having a tree, you can care for in your personal yard is just one way of giving back to the earth. But you should be wary of a few trees that are more trouble than they are worth in the long run. Here are the trees that top the list for what you don’t want in your front or back yard.

1. Maple Trees That Drip on Cars
You probably know maple leaves the best from the maple syrup you put on your favorite breakfast foods. Maple trees are gorgeous and have iconic leaves, but a maple tree’s downside is trademark sugary sap. While it might seem like a fun idea to have your own maple tree to tap for syrup, the thing about maple trees is the fact that the sap gets everywhere. Maple trees that drip on cars can also eat away at your paint job.

2. Female Ginkgo Trees That Drop Stinky Fruit
Ginkgo trees are golden beauties with uniquely shaped leaves, but the major drawback about the female ginkgo tree is that it drops slippery, stinky fruit all over your yard. If you’re deadset on having a ginkgo tree, make sure you’re planting the male variety, which has the same golden leaves but does not produce the smelly fruit.


We have three red maples, a large ‘parent’ & two saplings, & haven’t experienced any of the problems you list, we’ve had other undesirable yard trees removed, but maples aren’t one of them.