Yes. Bite the bullet and do it now. They grow fast and get huge.

The Norway maple is not 'pushing' the sugar maple. What is happening is the sugar maple is growing towards the light. The Norway is shading out the sugar, giving the sugar only one direction for it to grow.

I would remove the Norway maple. This would then allow the Sugar maple to grow normally, putting growth out on all sides of the tree, not just the side toward the house.

To me the Sugar maple is the more desirable of the two trees and will provide dense shade similar to the Norway. So, the Sugar maple is the one I would keep.

'Also note that the native sugar maple has a slower growth rate'

Yes. it's quite possible that those two trees were planted there about the same time. The invasive norway proved why you don't want them seeding around your Sugar maple woods. They will take over.

I wouldn't worry about the lean of the sugar maple. They are a strong legacy tree that can grow for 300-400 years. It will 'balance' itself out over the years, becoming more of a 'ball' shape. If limbs get too close to the house, they can always be trimmed.

The root systems need to be kept at good distance from foundation and patio slabs as well as sewer lines. Agree with other comments. I would wait til leaves fall in Fall to help control debris. Good luck. Big, heavy job.

Taking down the Norway would be my choice. They are suffocating each other and the sugar maple is the preferred species to me.

ignore the interior designers root comment ... tree roots do no damage to an intact foundation... they do not carry little hammers and chisels to bore into a failing foundation...

but the can take advantage of pre exisiting problems... but you had the problem before the tree came along ... so why blame the tree now ...

same with sewer lines.. really now.. if you lines are leaking.. then why blame the tree for seeking out the moisture ... and they dont break into gas lines.. nor water lines.. and again.. if those break.. a tree didnt do it ....

\as to the trees.. get rid of both of them.. and then you will be able to garden in your yard.. as well as grow grass easier and better ... if you bring workers in.. look at every tree in the yard.. and get rid of the problems while they are there ..

no properly planted tree should ever need maintenance pruning.. if there is such a need.. its the wrong tree in the wrong place ..ergo.. remove it ... unless you really enjoy bringing in the chainsaw guys every year ...

ken

Thanks a lot everyone for your advice! I agree that ideally the sugar maple is the better one to keep since it is a native species/prettier. However the Norway maple trunk is a lot thicker and probably will be a lot pricier to remove too (will get a quote for comparison to see). We also have a few other sugar maples in the same yard and just one Norway maple so we might want to keep it for variety, and another landscaper mentioned that it's root system is helping that part of the yard (which is slightly sloped down) with water drainage. My husband is also inclined to get a pruning quote / ask how long one pruning can last, and wait a season to see how things look / fare out since we just moved in.

This maple is coming down tomorrow due to storm damage. FYI $3300 without the stump being ground out. Tree removal is not cheap. Since you just moved in get settled in your home then concentrate on what you want to do with the trees.

Yikes! @functionthenlook sorry to hear that! That is super pricy and also a nice looking tree.