Would look best kept as it is. If you can't stand the debris maybe you can get it out of there using a long handled rake and a blower, without having to repeatedly crawl inside and fight with the lower branches. You will have to get in there to remove the deciduous tree or shrub that has come up near the trunk. And if you keep the soil bare or thinly covered under the tree then you may get a lot more additional weeds coming up than there are now.

Maybe remove the whole tree? It isn't that aesthetically pleasing.

How can you say that (Ken & Logan) without knowing what the OP will be looking at without it?? Their new prospect might be a busy road, an obnoxious billboard, another new homeowner who has removed all of his trees and will be eyeball to eyeball... Also, imagine what this will look like in winter with lights!

I would rather see a road.... or a billboard........ But I can't argue with the christmas lights. That would look nice. Shame that only lasts two months of the year. It could be replaced with norway spruce, which, I think, would look much nicer in the space.

I actually like it and I would try to limb it up slightly. I know most don't approve of doing such a thing to conifers but I happen to like seeing funky trunks and branching habits.

Rodney

Could be a red pine or Austrian pine. Take a cluster of needles...do they come in clusters of two, three or five?

Most pines would be better off not pruned. It's partly an aesthetic judgment. If you limb it up, you'll have to mow and weed under it forever, though.

Existing structure of this particular tree would not be enhanced by lower branch removal. Since there are cones on it those should be used to identify the species.

We have an ingrained drive to create landscapes that resemble the African savannah, with its high crowned parasol Acacia trees and its expanses of short grass. Hence all the acreage devoted to lawns. And the constant limbing up and/or excessive thinning ("lion tailing") of trees and shrubs that are not suited to such treatments, spoiled by them.

Hi Andrei, I am asking you to resist the "prune happy" mindset that we see all the time and many of us complain about. This is the idea that the homeowner must somehow control their plants with a saw, I call it the Homer Simpson effect. Then there is the knee jerk "rip it out" answer we often see from two peas in a pod. That advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

From your pic you have a beautiful, healthy tree with a pleasing habit. This is an asset to your property. Once lower limbs are removed you never get them back again. By removing the lower limbs you trade one maintenance hassle for another.

How much do you like the tree? Me personally wouldn't want SUCH a big tree right in front of the house, but different strokes for different folks and if you don't mind it then I'd say leave it alone personally...other wise it'd probably be easier to remove tree, plant a new tree that is less maintenance as far as pruning, and weeding area below

Yep. Knew I'd get some flack about advocating pruning. I did say "limb it up slightly", with "slightly" being the key word. About two feet at the max. It'd make it easier to put a layer of mulch under the tree which by itself would reduce maintenance considerably. Some small, evergreen flowering shrubs would look good planted just outside the dripline in front of tree and you'd never miss those lower branches.

Rodney

"you'd never miss those lower branches."

I would never miss any branches attached to that tree. Cut them all off, then knock the tree down.

but a norway spruce in its place? It would grow 2-3 times as high and just as wide! The OP's head must be spinning with the gamut of advice being given here...

Norway spruce can easily be crown raised as it grows, and would look much nicer in the space than this monstrosity.

Is there another tree behind this one? Looks like I can see the top of maybe a spruce?

Rodney, I agree with your plan. Seems like the best option to me.

Mike

I agree with Logan that a Norway Spruce would be more attractive...in about 15 years. Then a few years down the road it would outgrow the spot.

It's not what I would have put in that spot...but that is always the dilemma. The trees the previous owners planted may not be what you would have chosen, but age and size give them a majesty that nothing you plant will have for a couple decades at least. If everyone gets rid of the older trees that aren't perfect as soon as they move in, then a few years later sells the place to someone who does the same thing, you are left with nothing but twee shrubs. (And I *HATE* shrubs).

If you wanted to limb the tree up to let in more light I might be with you, but I don't think it will make maintenance easier.

Are bark beetles, wind, ice storms, or really big snow loads a problem in your area? If so, limbing the tree up could put it's health in danger. Otherwise it is an aesthetic choice. (Red and Austrian pine are vulnerable to bark beetles that can be attracted to pruning injuries, having lower branches that go to the ground can help a tree support the weight of snow, both regional problems.)

I agree in liking older mature trees, I have a maple in my backyard that is really old, and it has a huge wound in its trunk to where the tree people who combed out neighborhood trees for the Asian longhorn beetles said for me to just get rid of the tree...I told them the tree isn't a problem, and that I love it's fall foliage and it's awesome wide curvy limbs, and if I kept it what would the potential bad side be..and they said since it wasn't a hazard as far as damage to my house if a storm came through or whatever, that there really isn't any reason I'd HAVE to cut it down..but they said they could cut it, and p,ant a new one for free..I told them no way I won't live here long enough to see that things grow to what my tree is now. So left my tree alone...but again, it has really nice esthetic value to me...if they like this tree then by all means leave it alone..but if they don't like it so they want to trim it into something else I figure why bother just remove and buy what you want.