Lindsroc, welcome. First off, I'd urge you to consider planting any trees after landscape grade has been established. One of the most common mistakes we see is trees being planted too deeply. This is almost assured where filling/grading will take place after the tree(s) are installed.

+oM

Looks like there has already been lots of construction traffic over the root/soil system of that tree. I'd remove it NOW, just in case you are still hesitating about it.

Don't replant until all contractors are long gone. That means any utilities that may have to come in and rework their lines.

Welcome to the tree forum! You have a good looking place.

In defense of the construction work I will say it appears to have been done while the big tree was dormant. Just try not to change its soil level radically with the stone wall work. Some swamp land trees are more tolerant than others but I don't know what it is.

Are you thinking a tree shape or a multi-stem shrub/tree shape would be best?

I think American Holly is under-rated.

lindsroc: There are tremendous resources in MA for seeing a vast variety of trees and shrubs: Weston Nurseries, Arnold Arboretum, Mount Auburn Cemetary, Mahoneys Garden Centers to name just a few. You can see things growing in the landscape and, in the case of the nurseries, receive expert advice about what to plant in your particular area.

it doesnt matter what the tree is.. its got to go .. and the other one in the power lines also .....

not real good pix for an ID.. but the bark makes me think maple ... and the surface roots all over the yard probably confirm that.. a close up to the bark.. might get you an ID ...

and if the tree goes.. can i ask why you need the wall??? .. why not just regrade the whole lot??? .. and be done with the wall ... [let me guess.. some over-reaching government entity taking away your property rights ... but i digress]

even if you have the stump ground out.. you MIGHT be hard presses to plant a tree right back in the same spot .... expect an exceptional mushroom show.. while the roots rot..

IMHO .... plant nothing larger that a 6 to 8 foot tree ... they plant easier.. establish faster.. and will outgrow one twice the size in the first 5 years ... if you have any inclination to gardening.. do not put a maple in ...

frankly ... i would probably go with an undulating bed around the house ... with dwarf conifers in tune with the size of the house .... interspersed with perennials ....

tree planting time for me in my z5 ... is basically april .. and if you can not do it by then .. short of a large 'warrantied' professional installation ... i would shoot for the october planting season ....

welcome to GW

ken
hey.. is there no walkway from the front door in the pix ... might want to start with that ... maybe i cant see it ... it seems to be on the plan ...

purple lines/dots .. minimum 3 feet walkway on the foundation for house maintenance ... and garden access from the rear ... window wash .. xmas lights.. etc ...

green T's ... vertical trees.. perhaps flowering... something in the redbud size ... crabapple ... i dont know ...

and i would add some prime conifers in there.. and you can be enabled in that regard in the conifer forum ...

with the big tree gone.. i presume it will be sunny.. so daylily .. etc ...

the rest.. nice lush lawn out to the rebuilt wall ... primo ...

{{gwi:336942}}

Thank you all for your help and advice. Ken, thank you for the drawing... I was planning a walkway from the fence gate over to walkway but didnt even think to do it against the house so we can have easier access to plants.

So we had the tree guy come today and he will remove it for a really reasonable price. Now we need to figure out if removing it is best. He did say we have 2 dead trees in backyard too. Ugh.

What I am wondering, in your opinion, are we better off removing this tree so we can start over with fresh landscape or should we work around it? I think its pretty ugly myself... doesnt really do anything interesting during the seasons. BUT does provide relief from the sun beating down on us in the afternoon (im assuming...we moved in Dec 2011 but we were in negotiations with the house from July 2011 and it gets hot here!).... any opinions on this?

I dont have an idea on tree shape. But I would love something thats
a) pleasing to look at and will change with the seasons
b) will provide us with some shade
c) will provide us with some privacy
d) may be easier to landscape around
e) grows relatively fast

I dont know what we could plant that would accomplish these or if we're better off keeping it and working with it?

What I am wondering, in your opinion, are we better off removing this tree so we can start over with fresh landscape or should we work around it?

==>>> short answer.. YES ...

does the wall have to stay ... ???

ken

longer answer ... if it stays... you will be working in shade.. and buying plants for such ... if you then decide it has to go.. then all your shade plants might not survive ... plus whatever the tree guy destroys trying to remove it

let me put it this way ... 1970's green shag carpet .. on the ceiling.. you decide to renovate the whole house.. but leave the carpet .. nope.. make your own nightmares ... make it a clean slate

and BTW.. is any of that killer hanging over the house.. and will kill you in your sleep.. if so.. gotta go ...

now.. you are fixated on a tree.. i was trying to get you to conceptualize a whole landscape .. and it seems you are right back to defining a tree ... that is bassackwards logic ... define your landscape.. then find a tree to fit into it ... focus .. focus.. focus...

Ok... after a laugh... makes sense! I have designed the interior of the house top to bottom and I love it, put me outside and Im lost. I have pictures I have saved and links to websites but it is so hard for me to think of a plan.

But i do agree with what you are saying.

the wall does not NEED to stay, but the cost we got to remove it, level out the yard etc was way more than we are looking to spend...so the wall stays and we will rebuild it.

I don't think this tree or any other will give you much privacy. A smaller more bush like tree that doesn't grow too high will give you some.

Depending on how much screen you can place near the edge of the lot, a low hedge just inside the rock wall would give you much more privacy in the front yard than a tree will although a low hedge may not screen your windows from the street, but then it also will let you see out at the world instead of looking at a hedge prison wall. Also, I kind of like the rock wall--at the base you could add some flowers, spring bulbs, etc. that would look attractive from the street.

Does anyone have thoughts on planting a maple tree in the center of yard? Im looking for something where the branches will be fairly low, and nice color. Some of the reds i have seen in fall are beautiful! I was considering maybe a maple and 2 smaller trees for the front and also some landscaping.

I assume the wall you are talking about is to replace the one that is in some places in the picture along the street, so the level of the property will not be changed significantly. When you put the wall in make sure you allow for the natural drainage, you do not want to create a lake in your front yard.

My second observation is that if you take the tree out before you know what it is you may be making a big mistake. There are many Maples in MA and the states in that area are known for their fall color. You would feel like a fool if you take it out and learn from the neighbors that in the fall it was one of the most beautiful trees on the street.

With the mature tree I would do my landscaping around it rather that take it out and plant a stick. The mature tree adds to the value of your home both from the pleasure of sitting under it and the money you will get our of it when you sell.

I don't know how old you are but it is probable that you will never see the new the stick reach the size of that tree.

Hello all....just wanted to check in. We had the tree in the front yard removed last week and I am glad we did... completely dead inside. The only sign of life was a massive colony of carpenter ants. So tree is gone and the guy came today to remove the stump. Now we are looking for something to go in the center of the yard that can eventually provide some shade. We have soil going down and then hydroseed in the next few weeks so im hoping to have some ideas on trees soon.

I was thinking for the front left corner maybe a grouping with 2 crepe myrtle and some low shrubs? Front right corner maybe a dogwood or crabapple? Just need something for mid-yard. Any thoughts on Autumn Blaze maple??? I would love something that would get fairly tall but give some nice color. I would also like something that has low branches. Thanks!!!

Well, AB can certainly provide both height and low branches. I like these things well enough but they do require some careful structural pruning in youth so as to not end up with lots of bad V-crotches. Fast growing too.

+oM

We had the tree in the front yard removed last week and I am glad we did... completely dead inside. The only sign of life was a massive colony of carpenter ants. So tree is gone and the guy came today to remove the stump. Now we are looking for something to go in the center of the yard that can eventually provide some shade.

==>>> can i say it.. can i say it..

TOLD YA SO ... neener, neener, neener.. lol ...

OK.. NEW PIC ...

maybe even a new post.. with a link to this old post.. to regenerate traffic ...

ken

ps: now you know what i mean about killing you in your sleep .. lol ...

If it were *my* house, I would replace the tree that was cut down with a red maple or oak. I'm not sure how sugar maples do in MA - I assume they do well. Just keep in mind that with maples it will likely be difficult to have a great lawn. Oaks often have fairly low growing branches so that will help your cuase as well.

IN the right and left corners, you have several options, all of which you've mentioned. I would probably put a dogwood near the driveway and then a japanese maple at the left corner. Would probably be good to also include some evergreens somewhere for all-year interest. What zone are you in?

If you don't want a tree at the left corner, you could always try lace-leafed elderberry. I have one and it has grown quite large, and it is quite the eye-catcher. Beautiful leaves and form.

If you decide on crepe myrtles, be sure you choose a hardy variety - not all will survive in MA, depending on where you are, and in some parts of MA none will grow reliably.