3. Norway spruce

Next on the list of the worst trees to plant in a yard is the Norway spruce. Hailing from northern and central Europe, this tree has been planted in gardens across North America for many years due to its dark green color, large yet manageable size, and drooping side branches that sway back and forth in the wind. It’s also a fast-growing evergreen tree, giving it a leg up on many spruces.

While Norway spruces might be lovely trees that grow quickly in the colder areas of their range, they tend to reseed and have become quite invasive in parts of the northern US and Canada, making them some of the worst trees to plant in those parts.

What to plant instead: Skip the Norway spruce and choose the similar-in-appearance Engelmann spruce. This native of North America features graceful, sweeping branches and presents less risk of incorporating an invasive species into your local ecosystem.