How much to you value the shade from the west side?

I would kill to have a mature shade tree on my west side, it gets so dang hot in the living room in the summer.

If you don't care that much about that shade, then take it down.

Personally I would NOT take it down unless it was diseased or posing a threat to a structure.

I think you should leave it be. You might appreciate the shade more than you realize and once it is gone....

I've seen posts on this forum asking for advice for a fast growing shade tree because they cut down a tree for nuisance reasons such as of too many leaves, seedlings etc. and then realized their house got really hot without the shade.

Any tree that close to the house will clog the gutters with debris.

The dry, dusty grass issue under the tree can be dealt with. There are plenty of plants that will perform fine in under the shade of a maple.

To play devil's advocate here, Norway Maples are an ecological invasive in many states. Additionally, Norway Maples tend to be fast growing and short lived, so your tree may not be very old and may, indeed, be heading to decline.

Here is a link that might be useful: Norway Maple invasiveness

Two classic issues in one: a species that is turning out to have as many issues as benefits, and 'right tree, right place', where the 'place' is too close to the house.

If you cut it down, your AC bills will jump substantially, so make sure your windows and insulation is up to snuff before cutting down. But I don't blame you a bit for wanting to cut it down, and spend the time and money to work the soil so the new tree has a nice environment to flourish.

Dan (not a NM fan)

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and input. To address the issue of shade, let me clarify that. I live in an older neighborhood (obviously) and we have a lot of trees all around us. Removing this tree would obviously open up the side of the house to more sunlight, but I am not nearly as exposed to winds and burning sunshine as some newer homes would be. My neighbor to the west has several large ash trees and more Norway maples on his property. Yes, increased sunlight on that side will be a factor, but the missing shade issue shouldn't be that much of a problem. Plus, my house is a one story ranch style, so any replacement tree will start to provide some shade in a few years, especially if I invest a little more money to get a nice native tree or two from a good nursery nearby. So we are talking about a 5ft or 6ft replacement tree(s) that should provide shade for the bedroom within a couple years at the most.

I just don't know what the right thing to do is... do I take one invasive non-native tree out and replace it with two or three mid-size native trees? Or do I let it grow and adjust to it's maintenance requirements and the lack of undergrowth? I don't mind the cleanup parts, it is work, but so are many other chores, I just don't get much joy out of the tree, I guess that's my main issue... hmmm, maybe I need to talk to a therapist instead..lol

Thanks again everyone, it helps to talk it out, get other tree-lovers input and especially some "devil's advocates" ...:-) Thanks!!!

one of the golden rules in my garden is: if its not pleasing you.. be done with it.. remove it.. and never regret the decision.. nor ever look back ...

frankly ... though i hate maples in general ... BECAUSE I GROW HOSTA UNDER TREES ... the norway maple is the absolute worst.. horrible.. hated tree ever ...

IMHO ... grass is the most invasive weed on the face of the earth ... growing everywhere you dont want it.. multiplying like rabbits.. i mean really... it can grow in cracks in the middle of a blacktop in august ...

if a tree can kill the grass under it.. of what use is that tree ...

you can do so much better once you exercise your option of removal ... besides.. it makes good firewood.. and awesome woodchips for the rest of the garden ...

be done with it.. and dont 'worry' about it ....

ken

Ken has some good advice, but I wouldn't take it as he hates maples lol!

I mean, come on, Norway Maple the worst, horrible hated tree ever?...I actually chuckled at that.

But he makes a good point, if you don't really get much out of it (and you don't value the shade to a high degree), take it down. It can't be more than $300 depending on its size. I've taken down 25' trees down myself with a bow saw.

I had a 15 yr old Silver Maple in my front yard that I didn't care for (not to mention its inherit problems). My wife has shocked that I'd want to take down a nice 30' shade tree. I knew better, cut it down, didn't look back. I now have a much better looking Gingko in its place....and some roses, mums and junipers until it matures!

Well, to be less circumspect and prolix about it than in my prvs comment, cut it down.

Dan

to put it simply

guilt should not be part of the equation ...

you will plant other things.. and mother earth will rejoice .... its not like you are going to clear cut the area.. and leave it turn into a dust bowl from the 30's

ken

Agree with Whaas - Norway Maple may be short-lived compared to some oaks, but at 25 years, you're still less than a quarter of the way through a typical lifespan for it, provided it doesn't have any narrow forks liable to split. A life of 100-150 years isn't at all unusual.

Resin

I just got in from working in the yard most of the day, glorious weather, great to be outside and cleaning up and puttering around. I did a lot of thinking, walked over to the tree a few times, looked at it from all angles and decided to cut it down. It's funny how thinking about the options made it clear to me, and how some of the same reasons were expressed by you here as well. In the end it came down to two reasons, one: Why should I live with someone else's bad choice of a tree they made 30 years ago (talked with my neighbor, he told me that's how old the tree probably is), and secondly in the grand scheme of things the cutting of one tree will not ruin the earth, especially since I cut down an invasive one and will replant it with two (more likely three) medium size native trees. And once I had made up my mind I didn't feel the slightest regrets or guilt, it will be out of here later this winter. My neighbor will help me because he has a woodburning fireplace and is interested in the wood, so all I have to do is move it 6 feet and stack it right there.

Therefor, thanks a lot to everyone for your thoughts, it really helped me come to a conclusion. Now, what trees should I plant...? LOL don't worry I already have a few in mind, it's the narrowing it down that will be the hard part... :-)

It was an awesome day today, I think I got a tan! lol

Glad you made a decision you are happy with. Just take your time with choosing a new tree.

By the way, Norway Maple is not an invasive in all areas. There are many cultivars still planted in my area. It just needs to be used properly...for example not being planted 10ft from a house!

Oh good, Marcindy, another Acer platanoides bites the dust! I don't like Norway maples, what an invasive scourge they are here in the northeast US. Dense shade, dry soil, allelopathic roots, and unbelievably weedy. It is unusually invasive because it can successfully invade a mature woodland. (To be fair, I'm sure this is a lovely tree in its native habitat. It may also have a use in an urban environment where it has no where to spread.)

2 years ago, I spent $2,000 removing 4 large Norway maples(30-50 years old) on my lot and now there is only one huge tree left. I'd love to remove that one too, but don't know if it's in the budget. I now have more sun in the back yard and have been able to grow some lovely gardens in the former root zones of these trees.

Removing the Norway means you will have the opportunity to create something nice with the landscape, since it is difficult to grow other plants under or around these trees. Planting some native woody plants in its place will contribute to the local ecology instead of damaging it.

Hi Terrene, thanks for your encouraging words. I am planning to turn that part of my yard into an attractive yard for the summer. It's furthest from my deck and front yard, so doesn't get much traffic in winter or the colder parts of the year. But in summer I walk there quite frequently, it's more peaceful... so I thought that I would like to include summer flowering shrubs (clethra, itea, etc) as well as something to attract me in the fall, like fothergilla. and since it is a small tree, I want to grow a Franklin tree as well, or at least try it... :-)

Ok, I am off to enjoy the weather outside, 70F and sunny, not bad for November 8. Have a great weekend everyone!

Quick update, the tree is down, well, almost. We worked all day today to cut it down, had to be careful not to let it drop on my house, or the neighbors shed. Man, am I sore, but I am also very glad it is down. All that is left is a 10' tree stump, and we'll get to that one next week. Or maybe leave it and carve a totem pole out of it...just kidding.

I can't wait to plant a two-winged silverbell (Halesia diptera 'Magniflora') in its place. I almost bought a Japanese styrax (Styrax obassia)last week, on sale at a nursery that is moving down the street, $40 for a 5' tall tree, all nicely burlapped...man that was hard to walk by it and not get it..

Anyways, I made up my mind, it is going to be a silverbell, and with the additional available space I will also plant a Jim Wilson (Moonglow) magnolia. It will be fantastic, but it will also be a looong winter...lol

The fecundity of Norway maple on sites it likes is amazing and appalling. It has been planted because it is handsome and tough, but once a garden plant turns out to do too well in a region it should be eliminated from nurseries. Instead, large production operations in eastern North America continue to select, build up and disperse yet more new forms of Norway maple, Callery pear. burning bush, Japanese barberry and so on.