When I see a tree have the main trunk end abruptly and be replaced by many big limbs, I assume that someone "top-chopped" it, or beheaded it (cut off the trailer).

That's about as good for a tree as taking off the top 12-16 inches of a human!

well now that is looking more like a holly of some sort. Are the leaves kind of thick, glossy, and do they have a pointy end on them, kind of like a thorn?

I don't think its a holly.. I think the point is prickly and this one does have a point but very little and not prickly like a holly (I think) but the leaf is thick.

Just realized the pic i took wasnt the best.. These might help..

Seems to me, and this is just my opinion, that your pretty house would be better represented by showing it off rather than hiding it behind trees. They do add some shade, I see, but they really aren't attractive.

And is that a porch along the front?

The house is beautiful and the roof looks practically brand new.
:iagree: , cut the two damaged trees down and show off your house.
The existing hedges are okay...just add some colorful annuals along the base of the hedges while you enjoy watching the lawn grow.

I looked again at the photo and see that there is a tree/tall shrub at the right corner of the house(viewed from the street) - the branches are touching the roof. That one should be pruned back to keep the roof tiles intact and prevent water problems.

Oh, look. It says 'Dallas, Texas' on your posts now.:thumbsup:

gotsqueeze said:

ok, so I see 4 trees (large shrubs) The first one (looking from far left toward the right) is a large shrub. Toss up-if you like it keep it, if not, whack it out. Doesn't threaten your house and isn't horribly ugly.
2nd is the one I highly suspect is holly. (I would be surprised if that isn't a type of holly) I think it looks ok, might wait a year or two and see what it does-you can always get rid of it later. 3-Silver Maple no doubt would lose this. 4 large shrub (might be the neighbors? can't tell from the pic) again just a preference, I think it looks ok if you want to keep it.

I would start by taking out the maple and then look the yard over and see what it needs from there. The others may look better to your eye then. If it were me, I would take out the row of shrubs along the house. I have never liked the look of those like that. It closes the house off, looks dark and so so many more interesting things to plant in the front that can look SO much nicer. But that depends on how much of a gardener you really are. Some people only want to take care of a shrub. If you like spending more time with your plants, think large rocks, maybe a birdbath under the little holly and then some small flowering shrubs. What direction your house faces will determine what you plant there.

The house is gorgeous. Congratulations!

If you squint so you don't see how stressed those trees are, they DO add an odd charm, perhaps a little Adams' Family-ish.

And they are both almost equally malformed in a leggy way, so they balance each other.

But the silver maple won't have that "odd charm" when half of it is in your attic.