Would you like the shape of a bill though if one/some of those trees fall down onto your neighbours properties and causes damage? The very big tree in your first picture looks quite lopsided and looks to be leaning towards the fence and also backwards. If you plan on keeping it, maybe it could be pruned down, away from the fence? I would also agree with the comments about having the height of your hollytree. We have one in our front garden, but it is regularly pruned and then seems to get good growth, rich in berries ( for the birds) but contained so its not a nuisance. Good luck in whatever you decide to do @a1154.
It would be interesting to see an image of them from an angle looking along the (nicely) trimmed hedge.
Angles can be deceptive.
I also think keep the holly and maybe trim or have it trimmed. Although I dislike having to "appease" neighbours for the sake of it. There may be reason for them to want it trimmed or lowered, can't tell from the angle.
I would not cut it down. It helps to reduce the impact of having their rather pink house on view.
The neighbour with the white house looks like they enjoy characterful wonky trees too.
I don't know how risk averse you are, but if you are happy and want to keep them and are not sure, good arbouriculturalist advice is worth it weight in worry free, guilt free decision making.
Walls and fences can be rebuilt. Old characterful trees, when they are gone they are gone.
A neighbour behind us had an old very wonky cherry we did not mind it hanging around and over our garden wall. But it did look on its last legs. They had it looked at and we were all amazed and pleased that the money spent and work done saved it for at least the time being. Still wonky and hanging over
Love your garden walls by the way.
Chuckling at the monkey puzzle..... There was a post about them recently.
I would think it largely depends on what you want to do with the area. I don't find the apple trees attractive in any way, so I'd remove them, but if you like them, and they produce fruit that you like, then it's a case of pruning appropriately. They take up a fair bit of space which might be useful for other planting, so it's worth considering what your aim is for the site. I'd keep the holly, for all sorts of reasons, but if you can get it cut back a fair bit, that will help for future maintenance.
I love the wall.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It (the Holly) does not look nearly so bad from that angle. Further away from the neighbours than the other shots.
The Monkey puzzle ah mixed feelings. We used to have a small one abut the same as yours. See https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2679977#Comment_2679977 A cracker. Sad such a lovely big specimen tree had to be taken down. But understandable. @Palustris. Total admiration of the chaps who did the work. Monkeys are incredibly spikey and hurt like heck if they get you.. And I used to read a book that had a little song or poem about a monkey puzzle which made me laugh. Sorry, but you asked and a tad off topic.
The side on picture of the apple trees doesn’t look so bad. Maybe worth pruning the bigger one back if you want to keep it. Which is the one that is fruiting well?
I can't seem to kill mine! A self seeded little blighter squashed under a rockery stone between the fence and a very large pittosporum. I frequently cut it right down to the ground but it's still growing. Might just give up and keep it clipped in a dome.
Posts
I would also agree with the comments about having the height of your hollytree. We have one in our front garden, but it is regularly pruned and then seems to get good growth, rich in berries ( for the birds) but contained so its not a nuisance. Good luck in whatever you decide to do @a1154.
Angles can be deceptive.
I also think keep the holly and maybe trim or have it trimmed. Although I dislike having to "appease" neighbours for the sake of it.
There may be reason for them to want it trimmed or lowered, can't tell from the angle.
I would not cut it down.
It helps to reduce the impact of having their rather pink house on view.
The neighbour with the white house looks like they enjoy characterful wonky trees too.
I don't know how risk averse you are, but if you are happy and want to keep them and are not sure, good arbouriculturalist advice is worth it weight in worry free, guilt free decision making.
Walls and fences can be rebuilt.
Old characterful trees, when they are gone they are gone.
A neighbour behind us had an old very wonky cherry we did not mind it hanging around and over our garden wall.
But it did look on its last legs.
They had it looked at and we were all amazed and pleased that the money spent and work done saved it for at least the time being. Still wonky and hanging over
Love your garden walls by the way.
Chuckling at the monkey puzzle.....
There was a post about them recently.
oh and the monkey puzzle wants to know why you laughing at him?!
I'd keep the holly, for all sorts of reasons, but if you can get it cut back a fair bit, that will help for future maintenance.
I love the wall.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The Monkey puzzle ah mixed feelings. We used to have a small one abut the same as yours.
See
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2679977#Comment_2679977
A cracker. Sad such a lovely big specimen tree had to be taken down. But understandable. @Palustris.
Total admiration of the chaps who did the work. Monkeys are incredibly spikey and hurt like heck if they get you..
And I used to read a book that had a little song or poem about a monkey puzzle which made me laugh.
Sorry, but you asked and a tad off topic.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.