DD's tree gone wild

[Nyboy]

Another vote from peanut gallery to replace

 

[Collector]

There's always the option of removing the tree...your daughter is young and planting something fresh (and less hostile!) would give her something to watch grow. Hawthornes are only pretty for a short time, then they're just sort of homely, or at least unremarkable.

Something like a redbud, or a Japanese Snowbell tree, or a Japanese Stewartia would be pretty even when not in bloom. And they won't draw blood when you need to work on them. Plus they stay on the smaller size so they won't overwhelm the front yard.

Just my opinion, and we all know how opinionated I can be.

I sensing a pattern here Thistle, you are hostile toward hawthorn trees lol. I thought about taking ours down many times, but knowing it would fight back every step of the way curbed my enthusiasm lol.