1 or 2 trees in a small front yard (grow, plant, fast)

[TXboomerang]

We bought a new home last September and it was a new construction. The HOA rules required there to be 2 trees in the front yard at the time, and the builder put in an aristocrat pear and a live oak. We decided we did not want the pear tree and our neighbor actually wanted it so we had it moved to their yard. Then we found out that last month the HOA changed the rule on front yards to their only being 1 tree necessary. We were originally planning to replace the pear tree, but now we are considering just keeping one tree.

Here is my question. We have a live oak already planted and if we do put another tree in, it will be about 12-14 feet away from the live oak as the front yard is not very big. Is that too close together to plant larger trees? We had considered adding a cedar elm where the pear tree was, or a red oak. But my concern is that with them being that close, the roots will be competing and the trees will not grow as big or as fast and will kind of crowd each other too much. I don't know if proper pruning and shaping would eliminate that as an issue or not.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

[misplaced1]

Live oak is a tree that over time will get quite large. Doesn't seem like a great choice for a small yard anyway but that being said I'd guess yours isn't too big now. If it were me, I'd pass on adding another tree with that one already in place. Be careful also on any tree you have now or in the future doing damage to the foundation or to pipes if it happens to be one that would get into your sewer pipes.

Live oak

[Bulldogdad]

Based on the dimensions posted sounds like one tree is the best.

[jimboburnsy]

Agree with both of the above.

Live Oaks get HUGE, but we'll all probably be dead before the tree is covering the house. You find tall, spindly oak trees in pine forests. I think they "reach" when they have competition and form a dense, broad canopy when they are the big fish.