Weeping willows are suitable and beautiful in rural locations. But because of their invasive root system they should never should be used in a small yard. Or anywhere near sewer or septic lines. Surface roots stretched in all directions, including one headed straight for the foundation, another slightly lifting the driveway and yet another beginning to buckle the city sidewalk. The tree was a liability that would require removal within about five years.
Weeping willows are almost never suitable in urban or suburban situations.
Silver maples also need plenty of room to grow because of their aggressive roots, poor branch structure and chronic problems with aphids creating clouds of sticky honeydew. In a subsequent issue of the newsletter, there were several responses to Shor's article. David Lake, of Lake's Nursery in Newcastle, said that for many years his nursery didn't stock certain varieties only to have his customers go elsewhere to buy them. If a customer asks for a fruitless mulberry, I tell them we only sell them after a short lecture. The point of the lecture is that it is a useful tree to provide shade for their animals in a pasture, but it is not a yard tree.