r/sfwtrees

Are these Poison Ivy ? I saw them in my back yard. Number on each pic because i think there are different kinds.

I have a pretty well established desert willow in my yard. See first two photos. I rent and was given no care instructions for this thing. It is... big and bushy and seems to be extremely healthy. It has multiple trunks around the main one. It's gotten bigger in the past two years since I moved here. The only time I've done any pruning was a few branches that were annoying and getting in the way of my Halloween decor.

But... I see my neighbors down the street all have theirs pruned fairly aggressively (third photo).

So now I'm wondering... am I doing it wrong? Do I need to prune this thing back? Is it too big? Do I need to cut it back? Is it going to overwhelm and eat my whole house?

Our neighborhood is fairly sterile and bare, especially for my tastes, so I like trying to encourage a habitat that can attract birds and other animals (which is why I haven't done much pruning really). It's a very, very hot desert, too. And I embrace whatever natives I can get to grow.

So, if I don't need to make it as brutally sparse as the neighbors', I'd generally prefer that. But I also don't know this plant, so I'm open to a middle ground and any care tips would be appreciated!

Thanks!