Remove this maple tree or let it be?

[Ricktbaker]

You can see an orange extension cord on the ground where the edge of our pool will be. That is 12 feet from the trunk of the tree with the canopy just about reaching the edge.

Oklahoma area, and this provides some late afternoon sun, which might be nice. But not sure if we should just remove now, or wait until we have had the pool for a season and then decide.

 

[ajw22]

The tree will make a mess in the pool every fall when it drops its leaves.

And make a mess in the spring when it drops its seeds.

You can decide after you live with it how much pool cleaning you enjoy.

 

[PoolStored]

I too have lots of trees. I agree with Allen. You can always take it out, it will be hard to put back, but you may be in for more work than you expect.

 

[Ricktbaker]

The tree will make a mess in the pool every fall when it drops its leaves.

And make a mess in the spring when it drops its seeds.

You can decide after you live with it how much pool cleaning you enjoy.

Didnt think about the springtime issues. Thanks.

 

[colonelkirby]

If the maple provides you afternoon shade, that trumps the work of cleaning up the tree debris IMO. At least in my neck of the woods.

 

[Vol Family]

Is the "edge" to the water or to the decking? I just had 3 trees removed from the perimeter of where my pool will be installed and it opened up the area drastically. You could always add a large umbrella.

 

[bmoreswim]

Pavilions provide the kind of shade I prefer around a pool. I'm in the "remove" camp.

 

[sktn77a]

How damaging are root system of Maples? They tend to spread about twice the size of the leaf canopy (I'm thinking of plumbing, etc, not so much the gunite shell).

 

[sande005]

Also, how much shade will it provide? Some may be nice....but then your pool will run colder, not receiving as much direct sun, so you may have to pay $$ more to heat the pool more often.
But it is a very pretty tree - so I'd elect to leave it, until you have lived with it for a couple of years. Then decide.

 

[Newdude]

I took down 13 trees to put my 1st pool in. About half of them weren't in the pool/patio footprint, but once it went in I'd never be able to drop them so they had to go while it was free to do so.

I took down another 25 or so trees after the pool went in. Then I figured it was easier to move than to keep going with 80 left. An open yard was non negotiate on the new place. The Mrs could have demanded anything else on her list in trade and I would have happily agreed.

I'm on team 'ithastogo' while it's easy to do so.

 

[alvindo]

I live at the edge of a forest and I took down every tree within 35-40 feet of my waters edge. I still get a ton of stuff in my pool. Betta skimmer has been a life saver. Maples aren’t that bad imo though. You’ll get the helicopter seeds for about two weeks and then they’ll behave. I also feel like maples decide to lose all their leaves at once. My oaks and hickorys tend to hold on to them gradually.

If you can cut it down after, I would keep it and see. It’s so close to your build though that if you’re doing a liner pool, I would take it down now. Maybe with fiberglass or gunite, it wouldn’t be an issue of falling limbs during the cut damaging the pool. Where is your equipment going to be? If you try and cut it down later is there a chance that falling limbs/debri could hit the equipment?

I love my shade in the afternoon heat, but also think if in doubt take it out.

 

[sande005]

When we bought our house, it had two very pretty, but huge white pines near the pool. One's overhang was almost over the diving board. They were over 100' tall, trunks were easily 40+ inches diameter. Pool was in shade until late afternoon. Who knew they dropped their needles every fall? I could haul 30+ 55 gal garbage bags out. Pine needles are the devil to get out of a pump impeller. And then there were the drifts of pollen all over everything and in the pool, each spring. And they live well over 200 years! I really hated losing them from a visual perspective, but it was the best pool day ever when the neighboring house was torn down, and during reconstruction we were allowed to drop them in that yard. I only rarely have to fire up the heater and the pool stays far cleaner. Now if the neighbors several very close giant elms would only get Dutch Elm disease...my pool life would be perfect!

 

[jeremycrook]

I would keep it, it looks like several other trees are in your area anyways. Anything you can do to cool the pools in the summer are needed, we get so hot here the bathwater is sometimes unappealing to jump in.

 

[Bill1974]

I am in the remove the tree and dig out the stump crowd. Maples grown pretty quick, it's going to make it more challenging to remove later on. The sun will help warm the pool. Without the maple you should be able to open your pool a few weeks earlier and not have to wait for all the seeds to drop first. in the fall i'm pretty sure your pool will be closed well before the leaves are an issue. If you want shade, gazebos and/or umbrellas.

Also the helicopter seeds like to get stuck in the joints between pavers if the joints are not filled in. At some point you will be picking out seeds or sprouting trees. Maintaining the joints is easier than the upkeep if you don't.

 

[BMerrill]

Taking it out now is easier and less expensive than later. Removal would greatly reduce your cleanup. If left, consider removing the bottom branches, install a tree root barrier on the pool side of the tree,

 

[sls]

If the tree is northeast of the pool, I would leave it. Storms will typically blow the leaves away from the pool. After the helicopters fall in the spring the maple is a pretty clean tree. My pool had several trees around it and everyone always stated how pretty the pool was nestled among the trees. I kept them trimmed back to allow sun from 11 to 3 pm. After that everyone was ready for the shade and cool breeze.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I'm in the remove camp. I think the roots will eventually cause issues with decking and possibly potentially plumbing.

--Jeff