I'll share one of my projects.
Okay, so the dead ash is gone, but I now have sun pouring into my living room, starting around 3:30 in the afternoon. I need a new tree as soon as possible. It needs to be fast growing, but not a maple (I'm concerned about maple blight taking off), and big enough to shade several windows but not over 35 feet tall (or so). It would also help if it's not too messy. That's why crab apples got crossed off the list; however, there are some beautiful hybrid crabapples in 2024. The crabapple immediately below is called Prairifire.
Right now, hybrid locust trees are winning. I'm trying not to be too particular, but I keep coming back to Shade master (left) and sunburst (right). And there are other locusts that are similar, like Northern Acclaim (I think that's the name). All are good trees for this application.
I normally don't have such a difficult time making decisions, but I've got to get this right the first time. It's going to be too much of an expense if I change my mind.
I won't make a decision this week. I've been touring the subdivisions, looking at trees. And, yes, I love red buds, which is another nice small tree, but they don't grow that fast. I went back to see the red bud that I had planted at my first home in Iowa. It is doing well! But it does have slow to moderate growth, so it's off the list.