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Two trees grown in the same spot - should I cut one down?

bugs1959bugs1959 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
There are two different varieties of maple tree in our garden that have grown from the same spot in the ground and I am not sure what to do with them. I doubt they were planted this way intentionally. We have just started renovating the garden this year in our new house and we would like to try and keep some of the more mature trees and shrubs where possible, however, I am unsure if I should leave both trees as they are or remove one or both of them?


Posts

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Does their appearance offend you. In which case you can remove one. The remaining tree will fill in the gap left. You might want to try to straighten the trunk though.
    Or you could leave them. They will grow happily side by side. Their heads will appear as one. Eventually you may find the trunks will graft together.
    However your photo seems to show some weakness at the base, and exposed roots. If you think one, or both, is unstable then this may determine your decision.
  • bugs1959bugs1959 Posts: 3
    Hi Kate, thanks for your response. I'd be very happy to leave them both :) . In fact, I think they look better together as the shape of the individual trees complement each other. I just wasn't sure if it would cause problems as they grow bigger. The roots are a bit exposed as we had to remove a large amount of soil from the bed to get rid of some unwanted plants that had taken over the entire bed - the garden had been left for many years as the property had been empty. Both trees seem quite stable. I am about to fill the bed with new soil which will cover the roots back over.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    The one on the left of your picture,  seems to have white bark, the other doesn't.  There seems to be a difference in the leaves too. It's hard to tell from a picture but I think the white bark one may be a grafted species tree the other may be, in effect, a sucker from the rootstock. Normally I would say remove the sucker as it would dominate and overtake the graft but this doesn't appear to have happened here. If as you say you like the effect leave them but keep a watchful eye on the one to the right,  if it starts to overpower the other then I would consider removing it. 
    AB Still learning

  • bugs1959bugs1959 Posts: 3
    Yes, you are right, they are two different types of Acer. I believe one's a Norway maple and the other a Sycamore maple.

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited August 2022
    I agree with @Allotment Boy I think the "tree" on the right is a sucker. It looks like someone has been cutting off more suckers.
     I'd remove it
    Devon.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    One way to distinguish between sycamore and Norway maple: sycamore often get a fungal disease called 'tar spot'. Norway maple seems immune to it.

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