Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Who else is getting the "gotta dig" bug?, 4 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
sequoya and Muddy--

I have 2 maples--they are about 46 years old--
We moved into a new house in a development--and everyone wanted shade asap.
Didn't know a lot back then--so 2 maples were planted.
The bigger one is a Silver Maple--the smaller one is a smaller, daintier one.
Not sure what kind it is--but the leaves turn yellow and drop off very quickly.
The limbs are close to horizontal in growth, vs the vase-shaped ones of the SM.
However--it's roots are just as nasty.

I would never cut them down--that is NOT going to fix the root problems--
as they are already everywhere....
I also do not want to cut them down for the shade they provide in our hot summers.
I can turn the corner to the back yard and it is 10 degrees cooler....

Both trees are healthy and strong. They are in my back yard.
Yes--dead branches and twigs fall down all the time--that is just nature's pruning.

I agree that some "shaping " would be good--but that runs into a lot of money.
I HAVE thought of that a lot....just shortening the limbs a bit--NOT topping!!!

It IS scary in very high winds to see the big one's branches swaying around--
I keep thinking--one of these days--it may fall....It is quite tall. So far--so good.

#1 and #2--the smaller maple from 2 different angles
3--The big maple taken from my back-yard neighbor's side
4--The Big maple and the bed i call the "YUK" bed--as it is SOOO close to the tree
that I cannot even dig in it--yet it is always full of something blooming.
I respect any plant that can thrive in this bed...