Hey Alina,

The best advice I've ever heard is to live with your new yard for a year and then decide. That way you get to see it through all seasons. There are exceptions to that advice, of course, but since you're unsure I'd suggest you consider that approach.

That being said, I think the Amur Maple is kind of a pest tree in some states (listed for Minnesota) but I'm not sure of it's status in Maryland. It is not a native tree. The red maple is a native tree but like most maples it does have the root aggressiveness that you've heard of. You could take the Amur out this year and wait on the Red .... You don't want to lose all your summer privacy at once.

When (and if) you decide to take them down, it would be best to have the stump ground out. You can rent a stump grinder for a weekend project. Maples tend to sprout back from the stump and the grinder would take of that.

While you're thinking about other trees, consider if the area is sunny or part shade. If the yard is small then you don't want to choose something like Leyland cypress to put back because it gets big. So consider the size of what you choose. Hollies might fit the bill, but they do have prickly leaves and those leaves do shed, just not all at once like deciduous trees.

Are you really going to need privacy out in the yard in the dead of winter? No I doubt it. Shade is really hard to put back. Don't do anything until you live there a couple of years to figure out what your needs are.

First tree is an Amur Maple. It is not likely to get a lot larger than its current size. It's roots are nowhere near as aggressive as either silver or norway maples. I'd recommend keeping it pruned up like it is right now and then planting shade tolerant perennials underneath. If the need for a privacy hedge is still a priority, cut it down after a year or two. See link below:

http://www.midwestlandscapeplants.org/plantdetails.cfm?speciesid=396

The second tree is a red maple. This is a nice tree, IMHO. I'd recommend pruning the lowest branches so that the first set of scaffolding branches is about ten feet high or more. This may need to be done in two steps, the first set of branches this year and the second set next year. This will help you reclaim space and give you room to plant shade tolerant shrubs behind it along the fence line for privacy. See the link below:

http://www.midwestlandscapeplants.org/plantdetails.cfm?speciesid=421

I would second keeping the maples but limbing up the red maple.

Hollies and conifers also have large root systems and dense shade that makes planting under them difficult. The shade they produce is not as cool, widespreading or as comfortable for sitting under.

Rethink your need for "privacy". So many posters on these forums are obsessed with blocking any view out of their yards to the point of using up almost all their garden space for dense shrubby hedges. If you live in an urban area, you will be aware of your neighbours. A solid 6ft wooden fence will screen views, if you really want to, without taking up any space in your yard.

If it were me I would take out the Amur maple (which is as useful as it's going to get), and plant an evergreen shrub there.

The red maple looks like it has very good form and will provide shade for many years to come. I wouldn't do any pruning on it because the lower branches look somewhat large and pruning would create large wounds.

Agree with Alabamatreehugger on not pruning the Red Maple.

Resin

I can never believe ppl who just move in and want to chop down beautiful healthy established shade-giving trees! It takes YEARS to establish a tree to that point. Judicious pruning over a few years and planting compatible trees / bushes to fill in for privacy is so much smarter than starting from scratch.

Those are sumptuous green vibrant trees and with climate change it's so fortunate to have established shade trees already. There are so many trees and bushes that are lovely that can fill in, and baby trees need shade to grow strong and establish. The sun has gotten too harsh in summer. And you have to water a lot the first 3 years to get a tree / bush established with a good root system than can withstand drought, the typical summer status quo these days.

If only I could instantly transport to my yard all the gorgeous healthy trees ppl want to chop down! I'd have a paradise forest, cool shade, green swaying leaves and an oasis of Nature that is more and more rare in this over-asphalted diminishing over-crowded planet.

Meanwhile I've planted over 400 trees now on formerly weedy icky earth and spend all day and night babying them with water and desperate shade maneuvers so they'll "take" and pray most will live and be able to grow up.

Never take a tree for granted!

Thank you for your inputs! It is really useful to get some new points of view.
I thougt about pruning lower branches and filling in for privacy. These branches are thick, so I am afraid that it will be too harmful for the tree. My next door neighbour pruned several lower branches of her pine. Pine died over 1 year. I am not sure what was the reason: drastic pruning, infection or something else.
On the other hand, these are too low and too long now. They cover the area of at least 20' in diameter each. And I can not use the shade everyone is talking about! This shade is too deep to plant anything under these trees. Probably, it is not clear from the pictures, but this space is completely wasted for me. These two trees consumes about one third of all available area in my backyard. Columnar trees like Hollies would be much more compact.
Anyway, if I will go with pruning lower branches and interplanting something evergreen between these two trees, can you please recommend something that will tolerate dappled to full shade? I was thinking about Camellias, will they work?
A couple of things:
1. 6' fences are not allowed here.
2. I do need privacy in winter time also. It is not about using the yard. The neighbours' houses are too close, they all are 2 story homes. All our living areas including bedrooms will be exposed. The good thing is that these houses are higher than ours, so we do not need very tall evergreens to screen them.
3. 2 out of 4 surrounded us yards are cluttered, full with dead and overgrown ugly plants. I would love to get this obscured also.
4. Sorry for my English! I try to do my best, but with long posts like this one... :-)

Shade trees and shrubs can and do coexist. It is very possible to retain the trees and still establish privacy, although it make some time. OTOH, it takes time for evergreen shrubs and conifers to grow and provide privacy screening anyway, so you really aren't at any advantage by removing the trees and starting over.

From the photos it is difficult to discern neighboring houses, so at least during the growing season, a certain amount of privacy is already provided by these trees. The houses certainly don't appear too close, compared to some newer developments with zero lots lines. And privacy is one of the reasons why curtains were invented :-)

Personally, I'd retain the robust and healthy trees and work around them, limbing up or thinning as necessary and adding more evergreen shrubby material for privacy and other low growing, shade loving ornamentals. Local nurseries and garden centers can help you pick what will work best under these circumstances. I think removing the trees is a mistake.