Hi I hope this is ok to post here, I'm not sure where else to ask. This isn't a question about tree health so much as troubleshooting how these trees fit into our yard.
The previous owners planted a number of trees around the edge of the property with basically no regard for their mature size. The trees are not exactly new but not remarkably mature, either (maybe 8 years old or so). It's always been my intention to remove them – and have talked with neighbours about it as well – with the eventual goal of adding some edibles as well as some larger and longer-lived shade trees. You can see in the photos that I have already planted a combination plum away from the fence and allowed it some time to get established. Now that I feel like it's time to remove the purple flowering plums, I'm getting pushback from my spouse and some friends/family over cutting down otherwise healthy trees. It will be several years before any new trees replace the privacy currently afforded by the old ones.
Here's my perspective:
The trees provide modest privacy but afaik these flowering plums don't have an exceptional lifespan anyway – this is hopefully a forever home so I am fine with spending the next couple years establishing a space that will be more exceptional in the long term
The ornamental plums sucker like crazy and are constantly covered in tent caterpillars. Most of our yard maintenance falls to me and I just really dislike these trees lol
I don't mind the mountain ash but I'm worried it will eventually cause issues with the fence. Can it be pruned to compensate?
We had a line locate done for unrelated reasons but it turns out that these trees – and others – are planted right on top of where the gas line is. The tech said obviously they haven't caused any problems so far and didn't demand their removal bit did say it might not be a bad idea… and of course absolutely do not dig the trees up, only cut them off at the base and rot the stumps. Is anyone familiar with how risky it is to have trees planted within close range of underground utilities (once they are already established)?
AITA for wanting to cut these down? What would you do? If we proceed with removal, recommendations for Canadadian prairies zone 3 are welcome – we have a fairly large yard 0.2 acre with room to establish large trees.
by danksnugglepuss
2 Comments
Its fine if you wanne keep the trees just cut of lower branches till they reach over the fence
And if you can keep maintance cutting too 25% of the Total branches of the tree every couple years
Smaller trimming can be done yearly at the aproprite time for your country
The roots shouldnt be a problem tree roots will mostly grown around hard stuff
If you have more question do ask
Personally, I like trees more than fences. I can fix a fence by screwing more wood to it. Not so much with a tree.
That being said, I also am not fond of purple leaf plums and would probably remove that one. The rest seem fine to me.