Question
Hi Jim,

Background:
We live in the Bay Area of California and have a slope in our backyard.  There is about 12 feet between the back of our house and the slope.  The soil is quite hard.  When I plant flowers, I dig a hole, put water in to soften it, but mostly the water just sits there without draining in.  I'm not sure if it's clay soil or just hard soil.  

We have a pine tree and a redwood tree on the slope.  They are approx 4 stories tall.  The pine tree doesn't have just one nice trunk.  It's got about 4 trunks instead of one main trunk, so it's very messy looking.  Both trees currently have ivy growing up them and they are both close to our fence and block access to the fence.

Question:

We would prefer to cut both trees down because in the past we have heard a pine tree limb broke and broke the fence, it is difficult to go down the slope to clear off the ivy every couple months, they block access to that corner of the fence/slope.

But we also believe they prevent soil erosion and possibly help soak up the water when it rains.  Can you confirm this?  Is it good to have these 2 particular species of tree in hard soil?  I have heard some trees create erosion.  

Or, would it be ok if we had only the pine tree cut down, and trimmed and topped the redwood?  If we trimmed/topped the redwood, would that mean the "hands" of the tree would likely grow faster horizontally?  

Does the ivy help erosion?

Thanks for any input you may have.  The tree cutter is tentatively scheduled to come Friday, but we can still change our plan.

Elise


Answer
Cutting the trees would be a problem as far as the erosion goes. Any erosion problems are solved with ground cover and ivy is an excellent cover. If you do not wnat the trees and they maybe causing a problem leaving them for erosion reasons is not valid. Topping the redwood would either make the tree a "bush" or kill it depending on how severe the cut. If it is a visual thing I would just cut both trees and let the ivy cover the area.