Advice: What should I do with this bush/tree?

[abrucerd]

I've got this evergreen type of bush/tree that was planted near the corner of my house (Sorry, I don't know my shrubs). Unfortunately, it's gotten so tall that the peak now reaches above where my power line comes into the house, making me very nervous anytime I try to trim it.

We'll be putting the house on the market this spring, and I'd really like to clean this up a bit. Any tricks or advice to make this thing look nicer?

 

[Adios Pantalones]

It's not too big or entangled. If it was mine- I'd tie a rope up as high as I could reach, then cut it off and pull it away from the lines.

I wouldn't save it, personally- that sort of siding may rot behind that thing all year.

 

[ironpony]

It's not too big or entangled. If it was mine- I'd tie a rope up as high as I could reach, then cut it off and pull it away from the lines.

I wouldn't save it, personally- that sort of siding may rot behind that thing all year.

agree with this thought, rubbing against the house will mess up the siding. I would also make it disappear.

 

[abrucerd]

Thanks!

Do you mean cut it down entirely, or just the top?

If it's gone, I worry it would look very bare right there. If cutting off just the top, I worry it would look silly.

 

[heat seeker]

It's too close to the house, I agree. It's gotta go. I don't know of a way to trim it so it will look decent. I've tried with a couple of mine, and they look pretty bad...

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Hard to see there- it looks like an arbor vitae, growing out of an ornamental yew. Cut down the A.V. entirely, and trim back the yew. When the yew grows back in it will look right.

well, that's my vote at least

 

[Jags]

I would trim the tree down to about 3" above ground level. It would disappear.

 

[midwestcoast]

I had similar "shrubs" here when we bought this place. Wife wanted to save everything. I love trees but when something meant as a foundation planting reaches over the first story it is coming down. The other shrubs will cover more than you think.

 

[mithesaint]

Looks like some sort of juniper to me. Personally, I'd leave it. It's gonna leave a big open empty spot and not look right. The backside of that yew is going to be nothing but ugly branches.

If you're going to do something, remove both the juniper and the yew, and plant something in the place. Obviously not right now, but it won't look good to just remove the juniper.

 

[billb3]

Looks more like a juniper or cedar to me too
It's not uncommon to remove a corner plant and replace it when it gets too big.
I'd cut it down, too.
If that's another one beside/behind it that could go too.
They were planted too close to the house anyway.
Looks good when they are small - takes a few years too realize they should have been planted a few feet further away.
Common mistake- I've done it.

The next owner might want to remove the yew too and plant a weeping cherry several feet further away from the corner as a corner plant.
Leave that up to their taste/preference.

 

[UncleJoe]

If it's gone, I worry it would look very bare right there.

Only to you since your accustomed to seeing it there. Someone coming to look at the house won't see it the same way you do. What looks like a bare spot to you may look like a blank palette with many possibilities to a potential buyer. Like others have said; it really is too close to the house.

Looks like some sort of juniper to me.

Agreed. Those long wispy new shoots at the top look more like juniper than arb.

 

[maple1]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/can-i-trim-these.90307/

After all the good advice I got on here I came up with a plan - it involved a chainsaw.

At the first mention of that around the house here, that plan got snuffed out real quick.

So we're still living with crowding trees around our step.

Good luck.

 

[loadstarken]

I put another vote in for cutting it down.

When I bought my house I cut down anything touching the house and then back 10 feet from the house.

 

[Delta-T]

cut it down...if it looks naked after, get yourself a nice chainsaw sculpture of a pirate or Rocky to fill the void.

 

[mass_burner]

Only to you since your accustomed to seeing it there. Someone coming to look at the house won't see it the same way you do. What looks like a bare spot to you may look like a blank palette with many possibilities to a potential buyer. Like others have said; it really is too close to the house.
.

agree. lose it. put a little area of mulch with a stone/brick border and plant whatever is appropriate for the time your selling. buyers love that crap.

 

[Jags]

...if it looks naked after, get yourself a nice chainsaw sculpture of a pirate or Rocky to fill the void.

Yeah - a giant squirrel would look pretty cool.

 

[greg13]

As a former "Tree guy" we used the broad term "Reduce & reshape" to cover many jobs ranging from taking 1/3 of the tree to, in this case Reduce 100% and reshape it into a stump.

 

[JoeS]

It is only going to look strange to you if you get rid of it. Any one who sees the house after it is gone will be none the wiser!

 

[begreen]

Looks like it might be a cedar. Lop it off at the gutter height and use shears to round off the top to give it better form. Maybe pick a more muted, neutral color for the door too.

 

[gzecc]

Cut down the tallest and leave the bush in front of it. Bushes/trees that close to a structure in the northeast is only a problem.

 

[Smoke Stack]

That is way too close to the house. Get rid of it. It will only look strange to you because you're used to it. As a potential buyer; it looks strange to me, being that close to the house.

Just my opinion, based on over 15yrs of being in the landscaping business. Yes, I know my opinion is poop. But, around here poop has merit!

 

[doug crann]

It's not too big or entangled. If it was mine- I'd tie a rope up as high as I could reach, then cut it off and pull it away from the lines.

I wouldn't save it, personally- that sort of siding may rot behind that thing all year.

Learned as a kid not to let anything get to close tot he house. Folks had some Ivory that, when the roof was finally replaced, had eaten away 6 sheets of plywood on the roof.

 

[cre73]

If a chainsaw is forbidden then a truck and a stout chain is needed. We had some similar bushes around our house and I spent the time cutting them down and then started on the stumps. Wouldnt you know it. The stumps pulled right our with just the 4 wheeler. Should of started with the 4 wheeler and saved time.

 

[peakbagger]

Generally if you call the power company they will slide a plastic guard over the service line to keep the tree from pulling at the wires. If you are lucky the crew will chop the top of it off to clear the wire and then cut the rest of it.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

That is way too close to the house. Get rid of it. It will only look strange to you because you're used to it. As a potential buyer; it looks strange to me, being that close to the house.
Just my opinion, based on over 15yrs of being in the landscaping business. Yes, I know my opinion is poop. But, around here poop has merit!

Yup, tree is WAY too close to the house,too big to move elsewhere ,so take it down. You should be able to easily walk and see between any tree and your house for a variety of reasons. Including providing cover to someone breaking into the house. And tree roots tearing up your house foundation.