Trees for Horses: Sandy & Clay Soil

Looking for trees for your horse property? Explore options suited to sandy and clay soils, including American sycamore, tulip poplar, thornless honey locust, and mulberry. Growth rate and soil preferences vary, so check each tree’s details before choosing. Protect young trees from browsing and keep fallen plant material out of grazing areas.

Tree list

• American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) — Fast-growing; tolerates sandy and clay soils; needs plenty of room and moisture.
• Tulip Poplar / Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) — Moderate to fast-growing on good sites; tolerates sand and clay; prefers moist, well-drained soil.
• Thornless Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis) — Fast-growing; tolerates sandy and well-drained clay soil. Choose a thornless form.
• Mulberry (Morus spp.; consider locally adapted Red Mulberry) — Can suit sandy or clay soil if it is not excessively dry or waterlogged.

Fast-growing choices: American Sycamore, Thornless Honey Locust, and Tulip Poplar.

Keep oaks—including Sawtooth Oak and Live Oak—out of this horse-safe collection. ASPCA lists the four trees above as non-toxic to horses; Extension guidance warns that oak buds and acorns can harm horses.