Spruces and most other needled evergreens do not replace lost foliage on growth that is more than a couple of years old. (The youngest growth is the outermost growth on the branch tips. Old needles naturally shed on the spruce's interior over time and will never be replaced.) This means that any bare spot created by shading, crowding, pruning, or deer browsing will not fill back in, even if conditions improve.

If the sapling is a tree species that is non-native and/or invasive, we suggest that it be removed. If it's a native tree, we suggest your relative consider removing the spruce instead, because in our area they tend not to live long lives due to vulnerability to several diseases and environmental stress (largely our weather being hotter overall then they're adapted to). Plus, as the spruce receives more shade from either this tree or any nearby, it will get sparser over time.

You can send us photos of the sapling (if it still has foliage) if you need an identification.

Otherwise, since the two trees are too close to each other for both to grow well due to competition for soil moisture, nutrients, and light, one of the two should probably be removed sooner rather than later. If left to their own devices, the new tree sapling will probably win in the end, shading-out the spruce and growing at a faster pace. How quickly this happens, though, will depend on the sapling's identity.

Miri

Hello Bob,

Thank you for the photos. The spruce appears to be in good shape, so yes, removing the saplings is the best solution. Cutting them down to the ground is the most practical approach, and they may need another trim or two if and when they re-sprout. Eventually, each time their top growth is removed their root systems will exhaust their energy stores by re-growing foliage and they'll stop regenerating.

It's hard to see enough identifying details in the images, but each of the volunteers look like wild cherry. There are several native cherry species in Maryland, and their leaf shapes can differ somewhat. Birds enjoy the berries on mature trees and commonly deposit seeds in their droppings as they forage or roost.

Miri