that's just it, these persons above said nothing about less desirable characteristics (even that varies i.e. some may like the seeds as toys for their kids to play with). They only rail about the Silver Maple, and say cut it down etc with no explanation or reasons stated. Besides with a trunk of 4 feet, I'm confident the original poster is quiet familiar with all the "features" of a silver maple as it has been there for a good while. The original poster also said nothing of where it was planted etc., only asked for advice as to how to best try to SAVE the tree. And in this case, it sounds like most of the damage was at least a few feet away from the main trunk, and for all we know, it could have easily been lighting that caused the original split (seen that more than a few times as I live in a fairly active t-storm area). I agree don't plant them 3 feet away from your house/driveway etc., but what large tree would you suggest be planted close to these structures. I would have no reservations about planting them away from or perhaps on the east side (our storms come from the west) these structures if I wanted to. I personally prefer large trees with better fall color, but I do see the positives of them.

I agree with Tom about crabapple/cherry...or possibly plum. These are all in the same family. If you decide to go that route it will be important for you to look at the mature height/width for the particular variety you choose. Some are pretty big/wide, say 25-35 feet wide, which would be a bad fit for the location you're thinking of. If you're set on that type of tree, you might consider asking for help on the Trees forum, since many of those are non-native and less interesting to most of us on the Native Plants forum. Another possibility would be the Landscape Design forum. On either of those I think you would find people who have a lot of experience with purple-leaved Prunus/Malus cultivars of various sizes and forms. If you're looking for a suggestion for a native ornamental or shade tree, I'm sure we could offer some ideas here, especially if you let us know what zone you're in...

Think I am set with shade tree options and understand it's not going to be instant. They will be planted on the southwest/west side of my house so I will get shade on my west deck after they are 12-15' tall. I already have a roof so mid day is not a big deal, it's later afternoon and early evening when the sun gets lower and shines under the roof that gets me. It also heats the brick on the west side of my house to 95-100 degrees and that heat radiates long after sunset. Did some measuring and think I can get away with planting two trees with the following minimum spacings: 25' from house 40' from neighbors house 40' between trees 13' from paver patio That would allow me to plant both trees side by side off the southwest and west side of my house. Assuming my soil conditions check out, I would also like to plant a sugar maple about another 50-60' further west. This way if the closer trees get to big and have to come out in 30-40 years (not that they should) there will still be a well established sugar maple out on the west side of my house to give that much needed afternoon/evening shade.

Yes, from what I did read yesterday the girdling is pretty common. I have another maple in the front that is also suffering from girdling as well as verticillium wilt. That one has a very limited life. We are babying (extra watering, treatments) it for a few years but eventually it will have to come down. We had a lightening strike in our neighborhood just last night. Luckily it hit an old but very tall tree. Bad enough that the fire department came racing out as it was smoking. Never seen anything like that before. Tree didn't fall on the house but if it is not removed in the next few days, it might. For me, that was another sign that I am doing the okay thing.