Live in College Station. Typical smaller subdivision. 2k sqft house on a 10k sqft lot. Tree right in the middle of our front yard died over the summer. Not sure if it was weakened from the freeze or not. Anyway, no big loss we didn't like that tree anyway. But now we need to replace it. It'll be in your typical clay soil that we have but it is sloped right there so should drain ok. I kinda like the Shumard Red Oak. Just concerned about its eventual size. What others should we be considering?

Also, anyone know ballpark figure on tree cost to haul the old one away (about 15 ft tall) and drop in another one of similar size?

That tree was likely a contractor grade trash tree so it did you a favor. A pic would help. How many feet from the front of the house to the curb?

I'd expect maybe $300-400 to remove the old tree. When you buy a new tree the price is typically based on the gallon container or the caliper inch of the trunk.

Good resource. https://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/

I'd go shumard as option 1 and Chinese pistache as option 2

Chin kapin Oak

Chinese Pistachio is a mighty good looking tree IMO when fully grown. Perfect for small lots in subdivisions.

Chinese Pistache was once on an A&M website for tree suggestions, but at some point was removed, probably because it is considered to be an invasive species. However, they are drought resistant, can take full sun, grow reasonably quickly, and have leaves that get very colorful in the Fall. Just be aware that there are male and female trees, and the females can have a lot of very small seed berries.

We had a Pistache in our former house in S.E. C.S.. It was always the first tree in the Fall to loose its leaves. The first few years we were there, I thought it was dying in early Fall, since it lost its leaves so much earlier than the rest of our many trees.

C

Cedar Elm? They do great in DFW area. Not sure about further south.

Pretty sure a cedar elm is what just died.

If your space can accommodate it, I would highly recommend a Shumard oak. I planted a 200 gal Shumard in 2013 (Houston) and have been very happy with the growth rate, health, and aesthetics (symmetrical canopy; shows some color, even in Houston). Great tree.

http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/TreeDetails/?id=106

Shumard Red Oak will do well, but like other oaks, they are slow growers. I like Chinese Pistache as well, but they've been hard to find this year.

I like Mexican Sycamore if you want something a little different from an Oak. It has a big leaf and they grow faster than oak.

What size area do you have it in, and do you mind me asking how much it cost to have it put it?

We have a large Chinese Pistache in the back yard. Only thing I don't like about it are the berries it sheds. They are all attached with greek sticks like a handful of grapes and they get on the steps of my covered deck and into gutters.

We have planted 3 Monterrey Oaks (Chinquapin is similar IMHO). They are oak wilt resistant and fast growers. They grow tall for the first few years then out. Drought and blizzard tolerant. We planted our most recent one in Oct 2020 and it survived the blizzard. It was 100 gal when we planted it and it is currently 18-20' tall. $3k to get it here, planted and staked.

Have heard good things about Mexican Sycamore

Monterey/white oak, or bur oak. Brazos Valley tree farm

Well, better opinons from Neil Sperry or KAMU-FM Noon Thursdays Garden Success
but
coming from a black thumb and ignoring removal fees

Plant you S.Oak (I prefer Live Oak) slooooow grower but loooong lived
next to a Ch. Pistachio (fast grow and lives long enough for) - by then - respectable Live Oak to take over shading

The one that volunteer around here and out grow whatever I plant are Cedar Elm


15ft I could chain saw DIY but ..... next to house & haven't done it before? Pay the $$$$$
NextDoor.com has plenty of referrals de jour

chick79 said:

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Cedar Elm? They do great in DFW area. Not sure about further south.

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They do great in the hill country. My parents have a ton of them all over at their place and have never paid a bit of attention to any. Over the last 45 years they've lived there only one has died and it was a very mature tree when they moved in. It was easily 80 years old.

Red oaks grow fast and get big… really big. Wouldn't recommend putting one in a tight space. They also like well drained soil.

I planted a handful 30 gallon red oaks and maples a few years back. They're both really nice, but the maple has better colors and is a better fit for smaller yards.

The maples also tolerate water better than the red oaks.. I've had to replace one of the red oaks that was in a drainage area as it got diseased easily. About to have to replace it again. Will replace with 2 maples this time since the area is wetter than the rest of my yard.

Consider a walk around the CS arboretum or TAMU campus. Many trees are labeled.

https://visit.cstx.gov/listing/d-a-andy-anderson-arboretum/1370/

Bald Cypress grow fast and don't make knees on dry ground.

Green ash is a nice Texas native.

Sweet gum has great fall foliage but has the pointy seed balls.

If you don't mind a small tree, Texas lilac are really nice. The flowers smell amazing!