Please advise on what to do with the area between the house and the woods:

1. How do I manage the trees that are possible threats to the house? The trees are primarily hickory and oak. The following picture shows part of the area that I’m trying to landscape. The picture faces east. The trees provide a buffer between the interstate and the house, so I don’t want to remove too many trees. Removing the deciduous trees and replanting with hemlocks or rhododendron maximas is not an option because of the cost, the slow growth, and the problem with adelgids around here. I’m trying to stay native.

Anyway, if the younger/smaller diameter trees at the edge of the woods were thinned so that no more than approximately 15 feet separate them, would the density be enough to maintain the buffer while allowing enough room for the remaining trees to mature safely? If I do nothing, the competition would result in either many dead trees or limbs growing toward the house. In either case, the roof would ultimately suffer. Not sure yet which eastern red cedars will go; some cedars elsewhere have uprooted.

If I girdle the trees to be removed, instead of taking them down, would the decay rate allow the limbs to fall without threatening the house? I’m considering girdling to save my energy, time, and money. I don’t think I need to worry about the trunks hitting the house, given the direction the dead trees in the woods have fallen.

2. What should I plant? I intend to plant a serviceberry and native azaleas in the area where the big rock and log pile are. Not sure yet about other under-canopy trees (e.g., buckeye, witch hazel, chionanthus). Maybe ilex glabra or illicium parviflorum? Myrica doesn’t do well here. Dogwoods are infected, so I’m avoiding them. Redbuds and maples are too prolific.

Thanks you for your time. Any suggestions are appreciated.