Here are some more pics to give context (and to make clear it doesn't always look as awful as it does right now... but we've definitely got more mud, etc. than in previous springs... maybe grass/moss will fill in better than I think based on the mud and roots I'm looking at right now?) As you'll see from the photos (many in the very kind late afternoon light), there WAS some grass -- mostly junk stuff but green, nonetheless -- last spring (these photos were taken in late May), so I may get that again this year. But if you were up close and personal, you'd see mostly roots, with tufts of grass sprinkled about. So what I think you all are saying is ... live with it. Put a bench, maybe tuck some ferns, spread some mulch (how about that 50/50 compost-mulch blend the local farmer offers?) Or take the tree down, which we'll do when we have to but NOT until. It is spectacular in the autumn! And home to many birds, source of shade, generally an asset (except for those roots). Surprisingly not a problem for the well -- and Ken, the septic field is out in the meadow, behind the barn. Probably several thousand feet from this tree (whew!!) So here are pics, so you'll know it's actually a gorgeous setting despite the dreary winter-devastation pictures! Ken, here's the view past that split-rail fence and the road, to the house across from us. The trunk you can see is the culprit maple in our front yard...the "view" is lovely (that hazy golden light behind her house is an 8-acre meadow). I'm having trouble visualizing a bench in the front yard but I suppose there's no reason not to have one -- we have cedar benches in the butterfly garden and on the patio in back. And this shot shows the area around the tree last May: Also, I should say that we have ... anticipating we will lose these trees eventually ... already planted a young Acer rubrum "Red Sunset" and an Acer triflorum, both from the NW Conservation District sale, at some distance from the existing trees (on the edge of the meadow and "upslope" between the drive and the street). Hope they will do well (not sure it's a good location for the triflorum but I think it doesn't get as large as most maples?) Thanks all for the thoughts and ideas ... when I look out there right now, it is so depressing, but when I look at these photos from last May, I know that GREEN will help a lot!! (We are still experimenting with the front beds, which were filled, when we bought the house 4 years ago, with "deer candy" that we removed. Because it's so dry under that house overhang, it's been a devil to find anything that's deer-resistant that will grow in dry shade. So far the hostas and leucanthoe have weathered it. The andromeda not so well. A work in progress...!

FYI Ken, I actually have seen them basically grow back together on these vigorous Red-Silver Hybrids from a very thin saw cut. Cutting out a section helps to make manipulate the remaining root easier. The root needs to be cut back to a bend, where the cut end is pointing away from the trunk, and not across it. If you leave the root pointing across the trunk of the tree, new roots from the cut end in the same direction i.e. back across the trunk of the tree, and you can end up in the same boat again. Arktrees

Neat link, plumfan. Thanks for sharing. Eukofios, I found a way to avoid fig withdrawl. Right now, as I type, I have a lovely steamed figgy pudding going on the stove. It should be ready in about 2 more hours. I can hardly wait to dig into it. ....have to test it before Christmas, you know, just to be sure it is "just right". LOL I also plan to make some fig tarts, fig pies, fig jam. My figs in the cold cellar now. I check on it every few days. It looks okay.

The way I understand the article, the benefit of adding the chopped leaves to the lawn is primarily that of a fertilizer, making the grass grow more thickly (which I definitely have seen to be true) which then reduces the chance of any type of weed seeds germinating. In one area in the backyard of our previous home, I routinely would rake all the leaves (a mix of sugar and red maple and several oak species) into a windrow and then take the mower over them several times to chop them for the compost pile or mulch. The finest bits were cornflake-sized and were left behind to decay in the grass when I raked the larger bits into the compost. After a couple years of this, that patch of grass was noticeably thicker and greener than the surrounding area. I do not think that the article is saying that a phytotoxin in maple leaves is preventing the dandelions from growing. A healthy lawn, properly maintained, minimizes weed growth in general. The article also pointed out that in a previous study, it had not been determined whether or not there may have been herbicide residue present that could have skewed the results. The article states: "The high application rate, regardless of tree genus or species, resulted in the highest green-up ratings. Common dandelion plant counts after one (2003) and two (2003 and 2004) mulch applications at the high rate showed that up to 80% and 53% reduction was achieved, respectively. Results indicate that mulching leaves regardless of genus (oak or maple) or maple species into established turfgrass as a leaf litter disposal method will increase spring green-up and contribute to a reduction in common dandelion population." [Emphasis mine.]