Heath Waller

Thank you @Mike. I've heard silver maples are best grown near water, so they're not so great in yards. Plus they're prone to cracking etc. But I just hate the thought of killing any trees unnecessarily.  Someone who just wanted a yard for their pets or kids to play in might just love this set-up... (Which might mean this property would better serve someone else - leaving me free to try and find a more suitable place).

I have considered taking over the "hellstrip" as a way of adding to my growing area (knowing the town could mow it at will). Again, might incense the neighbours who treat their strips like their lawn - and keep them golf-ready.

Lots to think about. But everyone here has been so generous with their insights... it has given me a good foundation upon which to ponder over the coming weeks and months.

I consider my original question fully answered by all you wonderful Permies. Thank you all so much!

@Glenn - yes, one of the silver maples is at least 4' wide and does shade a good portion of the yard. The others are about 1' (the Google image was taken a few years ago so they've grown since then). But the little ones could still be taken down without much fuss.

But it is a very exposed yard, and I've ended up in a very cookie-cutter neighbourhood where everyone's yard looks like a golf course. And, because the  yard requires so much fencing I've had to go with chainlink over something more private. So it could be an issue with the neighbours (I've always lived in ratty neighbourhoods where anything went - so not sure how things might go when it gets messy in here). So that's some good food for thought.

It is a big drainage swale all around. I hadn't thought of diverting some of it!? Great insight!

Thank you so much for all this information and new stuff for me to think about.

Thank you @Galadriel and @Abbey for your replies.

It isn't shown in the Google images, but the trees do provide a whole lot of shade (I'd say about 40% of the yard is in full-time shade). But I do appreciate it during these hot days.

But I think you are both right. I should be spending some more time just getting acquainted with the property before making any drastic decisions. (Abbey, you rightly picked up on my stress, I guess it has been almost 4 years of constant moving from one side of the country to the other, and updating scary homes along the way so as to not lose money in the process - and wanting to settle down but being out of practice...). It felt as though a decision had to be made before I got the fence in. But I guess that's not necessarily the case.

It is good to hear that others are sharing their spaces with established trees, and hearing that I could be looking at them through the lens of opportunities (i.e. for future hugelkultur or for providing compost material or homes for birds etc.).

Thank you both for giving me the perspective I needed. I think that in a year's time I'll have a greater understanding of what I need to do here.

The care and time you took in responding to my questions is sincerely appreciated. I feel so grateful to you both.

Hi - I'm hoping some people wiser than me might be able to advise on the viability of my new yard becoming a good area for a permaculture garden.

I bought this property without the opportunity to do much research on the yard (long story). All I knew was that is was larger than average. And it is. But it is also heavily-treed with predominantly mature silver maples, along with some big white birches, Japanese maples and mountain ashes. One of the silver maples is over 50ft tall. And one of the white birches is about 40ft.

I am also situated on a lot that is surrounded by road on 3 sides. And adjacent to a large park that allows in heavy westerly winds.

I have moved 4 times in the past 3 years trying to find the right area in Canada that suited my needs and preferences. The good thing is I have found that here in Eastern Ontario. However, I am not convinced this yard is the right one for starting my permaculture dream. (One that will include a food forest, and a greenhouse). I fear that I'll have to go over my budget to get many of the silver maples removed (as I know they have big root systems and suck up a lot of water), then I'll end up with a very exposed, potentially very hot and windy, yard until I can my garden established. (Not to mention tsk-ing neighbours for killing perfectly lovely trees).

I can fix up this house and move again to a more suitable situation if necessary; but right now I am just weary of the process of buying/fixing up/selling. (And this weariness could be unduly influencing my decision-making).

I also need to put up a fence for my dogs, so I'll need to know before then if I am going to be cutting down any/all of the trees. I just don't yet know enough about how these established trees could affect my gardening efforts, and I've had trouble finding information on this kind of situation elsewhere.

Any help or advice would be sincerely appreciated!

Heath