i agree this is not aesthetically appealing, but this is super common to its silver maple parent. Silver maples are large, messy and prone to losing limbs, but otherwise will grow fine in a multi-stem arrangement.
I wouldn't worry too much about it unless it is close to a structure or something you don't want crushed. If you WANT to prune it, they also seem super resilient to this as well, with the following caveats:
1) it will look stupid for a number of years
2) generally a bad idea to cut limbs > 6" in diameter
3) follow pruning best practices (wait until dormant, clean cuts outside branch collar, etc)
There was an autumn blaze about 25' tall in the park near my house that just about split in half due to storms. I cleaned it up in the middle of summer as best I could, and it still looks aesthetically awful, but it is thriving. They seem to be very tough trees.

I think silver maples are a scapegoat for the generations of incompetent that planted them in the wrong spot and didn't prune them properly.

If pruned properly and planted in the right spot, ie open grassy areas, they are attractive trees.

I have a newfound respect for them after these last two droughty summers and they still look solid. Also I rarely see them falling apart or volunteers popping up around here.

I'm not saying they are a top tree that should be planted more its just that they have some things going for it if used properly.

Longtee,

I'd be inclined to remove it however its tough to imagine what it would look like it if I removed B (or A) from this view point. If I belive the canopy would fill in (depending on the laterals of the remaining trunk) I'd try it. I did it on a tree slightly smaller than yours, maybe 15' tall. Looked funny for a couple years but looked normal thereafter.

I'd then remove C the following year.

The C branch is actually a "good" fork.

Corkball is right -- this is the way soft maples tend to grow. Sugar maples, honeylocusts & elms do it too, but their wood is so tough it rarely causes problems.

At that size, I wouldn't do anything, unless it's in range of a structure. Up to you to cut down or trim it, of course.

That's a handsome tree BTW.

This post was edited by beng on Fri, Sep 13, 13 at 10:26

AB is one of the better behaved freemaniis, but they almost all do this.

The A/B crotch is a bit worrisome, but as beng said, 'C' is fine.

However, unless it's near something that it could harm if a branch splits, I'd let it go.

FWIW when young, an AB (& other Freemans) can be trained to a bit more of a central leader & these crotches avoided, but again, it's their nature being half silver maple. Even "pure" Acer rubrums sometimes do this, as well.

The new cultivar 'Redpointe' which I think is also a Freeman, but marketed as an A. rubrum appears to have a much stronger central leader. Might actually be a 25% silver/75% red cross as well.

I'm trying to get a hold of one but can't source it - one nursery around here supposedly carries it but when I called they said no.

cut it to the ground.. apply round up to the stump ..

and go buy another $15 tree and plant it 2 feet away ... or where ever you can dig the hole ...

what are you going to do.. wait until you have to pay a thousand dollars to have it removed???

A/B WILL!!! fail .... some day.. some way ....

and most likely.. due to included bark.. tear right down past C .... and then you will be posting.. and asking us.. if we favor bolting it all back together ...

the key for me.. is FREE removal.. at this size... and rather cheap replacement cost ...

that bottom left pic.. is actually mostly a bigger tree behind.. isnt it????

ken

PS: the smaller 1 inch branches.. bottom right pic .... are in a very weird configuration.. almost like they are preparing for the decline of that above ...

HM4EVAH,

AB is one of the worst of the Freeman Maples for branching angles. Many other cultivars have been selected for better branching.

The caliper of C is much too large for a lateral, its a co/dom in my eyes and prime example of inproper pruning...ie leaving it prior and leaving it now.

So yeah, cut it down or experiment with pruning as stated above.
Just my vote!

I think I'd leave it grow. If it's in an open area, it's doing no harm and can't really hurt anything. If it was near my house, I'd cut it down in the first place/never planted it.