We have an "arbor board" that's in charge of the planting. It is my inderstanding that the trees that are being selected are specific to the soil for each area. I'm not sure why they've left it up to me to decide where I want them planted and I'm still unsure of the spacing. The following an article taken from the Grand Rapids Press: Lowell: Arbor Day Foundation recognizes city Monday, April 14, 2008By Morgan JaremaThe Grand Rapids Press LOWELL -- The city's trees have fallen on hard times in recent years, but officials say that's about to change. In the wake of years of complaints about too-aggressive tree trimming and removal, the city has earned Tree City USA status from the National Arbor Day Foundation. "What this does is really show our commitment to trees from now on," City Manager Dave Pasquale said. The designation recognizes the city's efforts to improve its image, at least where trees are concerned. Lowell formed an arbor board last year to oversee trimming, felling and planting of trees; passed a tree-care ordinance; and established a tree-planting fund that aims to plant 120 trees this year. The fund includes $25,000 from the Lowell Area Community Fund and $5,000 from the Look Memorial Fund granted. Lowell Light & Power also is contributing two annual payments of $8,026 to the tree fund. State Forester Kevin Sayers said the designation goes beyond being a good public-relations move. "Without this program, many communities wouldn't have any standards at all," he said. Lowell is one of five cities this year to earn the Tree City USA designation. More than 100 Michigan cities hold the designation.

brandon7, this tree is in a lot better shape than the other. If only one of the 2 trees will make it, this would be the one. The soil level in the pic is about an 1" or 2" above the surrounding lawn. If the root flare is not too far away from this point, at worst the tree would be slightly below grade. While I agree that all this root pruning is not too beneficial, I figured it was the lesser of two evils. Already I've removed a couple of roots that was girdling the trunk. I inspected the trees today and from my novice eyes, the leaves appeared a darker green than it did a week ago. Not sure if all this Dallas rain has anything to do w/ it or just that we're getting closer to summer. I guess at this point I'm gonna march forward and find that root flare. My long term plan is if these trees show signs of recovery, I would replant them in the same hole in the fall to raise them above grade a bit if they're in a hole. As always, thanks for the responses.

1.) Yes 2.) It boils down to what your expectations are. If you want a desireable long lived shade tree then NO. If all you want is some shrubby thing to look nice in a parking lot tree island for up to 10 years then you're in business. 3.) If you go treating the stump, you could end up killing the entire tree. If you want to make it a multi-stem, you can do what the growers do which is to cut it at the base then select the best looking stems that sprout. One thing to think about is that turning it into a multi-stem isn't necessarily going to prevent sunscald in the future. That is a very common problem with silver maple hybrids.

my best advice ..... get rid of it now.. its driving you insane... lol ... you can take off dead stuff.. any time.. in the next three years ... in the mean time... we see how it continues to leaf out .. consider it an experiment ... not something on the time clock ... if you cant deal with it in tree time.. counted in decades ... then it will just bug you ... its obviously alive ... and all you can do.. is give it the time it needs ... OR.. get rid of it ... never saw the rest of the yard ... but maybe if you planted a nice 3 to 5 foot oak or some such ... out 10 or 30 feet ... you can put in a real experiment.. and watch the smaller outgrow the larger .... and then.. if you decide to chuck it in on this one.. you already have the replacement thriving ... next best tree planting time is fall or spring.. spring for oak ... dont really know what an arborist costs.. nor if i would invest the money in such ... might be more than the cost of that second tree ... ken