I have a fairly small yard and the builders planted a nice silverleaf maple when the home was built about 5 years ago. Now this young tree is getting pretty big, I'd say over 20ft and my lawn is getting really "hilly" from all the huge roots right under the surface of the lawn! Also, the branches are so long and lanky, that when the wind blows, it looks like the tree is going to break. It finally happened last week. One branch, about 7ft long, broke and was hanging on other branches and weighing them down. The branch was still attached just enough for me not to be able to pull it off. I found someone to climb up there and get it down and now I'm looking for a tree trimmer to come and crop the branches to a more manageable length.

Back to the root system....this really freaks me out!

Down here, those trees are called "trash trees"....Years ago, my Mom's neighbor had some that I thought were so pretty.

But, when we dug up a few of the shoots that were coming up from the neighbor's trees, and, planted them in our yard; it didn't take long to find out how invasive they are.

We soon had silver leaf shoots sprouting out all over our yard. We got rid of the big trees, but, it took a long time for us to be rid of all the little shoots...they continued to pop up in our yard for a long time after the big trees were gone.

Wow! I haven't seen one shoot sprout out in 5 years! shhhh.

I have a red blaze maple in the backyard and it's so nice and contained. I wish they would have just used those instead. They look so pretty in the fall!

I mow my neighbors yard along with mine since we share a yard and, yes, she won't mow or water. I have to do it for her if I want MY yard to look nice. I think my yard and curb appeal is the nicest on the block! She has a small tree with very dark burgandy leaves. I'm not sure what it is. Each week when I am using the weedeater or what ever it's called, I have to go all around the bottom of THAT tree and get all the baby shoots at the bottom or they will take off like crazy. Her tree is small though, mine is getting to be a monster and I won't be paying anyone to pull that out any time in the future. If it ends up causing a plumbing issue, then that will be a different story. I hope that doesn't happen!

EEEKS!

Ew. I just read a bunch of horrible stuff online about these trees. When I first bought this home, I read nothing but nice things about it. I never saw all the stuff about the seedlings and how soft the branches are and how easily they break. I wonder why (other than cost) the builders put so many in my neighborhood. They must have been readily available at that time. I can't imagine how many of us will be running into problems. I don't guess KB Home's limited 10 year warranty would cover removing these either. So we're all stuck with these trees until we can figure out what else we can do. I think the roots stay close to the surface, which is a pain in the neck for other reasons, but might be safe on the plumbing pipes as they probably are deeper down.

I guess I can't stress over it too much. Such is nature and humans clashing once again!

Hello athomeinco~~ if it makes you feel any better I have one of those soft limbed silver maples in the middle of my backyard.
I like the way the limbs droop gracefully and crook and curl. But, yes they are weak limbed and prone to breaking! The leaves will turn brown and the limb will eventually dislodge itself with the help of the wind.
You have probably heard the expression: "One man's trash is another man's treasure!" I would not worry about what others say about it!
Our tree has been here for a long time and never caused any trouble other that having to pick up occasional limbs as they break and fall!
Otherwise...I love my silver maple and think that it is very sculptural and beautiful!

Most often I find that the roots of trees "suddenly" appear at the soil surface is because the soil, lacking sufficient levels of organic matter, has shrunk away from those roots, the roots are where they always have been but the soil has receeded from them. What has been done with the grass clippings and leaves over the years? If they have not been recycled back into the soil what has been put into the soil in that organic matters place?

Athomeinco, as often happens, builders may choose one specialty tree to plant en masse in home developments. I think they usually know about the particular specimens and they often add much enhancement to the area of homes.

But, from my own experience, choosing a silver maple for a small sized lot, is not the way to go. It has just too many things that speaks against its use. Roots, like you describe, popping up in the lawn. The twirly seeds (helicopters) that need to be picked up before they take root, the eruption of the base of the tree above surface, the never-ending twigs and branches that continually fall from wind and the mature height of this tree that is achieved in a very short time. Fifty, sixty, seventy feet will extend its shade to probably a large part of your yard.

Since it is only 5 years old, if you have serious thoughts about what the tree might do to give you problems down the road, now is the time to consider maybe its removal.

There are many smaller growing trees that would fit your circumstances better. A native Colorado growing tree I think would suit you much nicer.

Thanks for the replies! I'm pretty sure I'm keeping this tree for the long hall. I figure if I have trouble, the rest of the neighborhood will too and it that happens we'll see if the builders are approached. I'm sure by then it would be too late for any warranty type coverage. My builders have been absolutely awesome about issues in the past. I have a sump pump in the crawlspace and it wasn't working too well. I also had....get ready...was looked like mold to everyone EXCEPT the mold remediators. They said it was just the efforvescant (sp) stuff and may have turned to mold eventually. At any rate they completely redid the entire crawlspace and put in a new and better sump pump. They said it would have cost about 6,000 dollars to have had that done on my own. I've since had people look at the job and they cannot believe what a great job they did. I can't even hear the sump pump anymore. It may not even be kicking in since the area is now sealed so well.

Well, that was off the subject. But if our neighborhood ever runs into trouble from the trees, you never know, they may help us out.

Thanks!

quote:

I have a sump pump in the crawlspace

That would scare me more than the silver leaf tree!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Booker,

Athomeinco, the efflurescence is nothing but salt crystals on the surface caused by evaporation of water in the material.
Usually seen on cement floors....as in garages.

Sump pumps are usually silent except when you stand near them and they have a reason to cycle.
During spring, when the outside water table is high, then you'll notice the sump pump doing its job....and its not bad to hear it. At least that way, you know its working.
Trouble ensues if a circuit breaker cuts off which runs it and water builds up in the basement.

At least you know what might happen tree-wise and can take remedial action before real problems arrive.