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Problem area

• Message 1. 

  Posted by jools (U14474476) on Thursday, 5th August 2010

  I have an area of garden,which has been ruined by an 80 foot picea,(unsure which).It is growing just inside the neighbours garden,worryingly,only about 30 foot from the house.I am aware that they can grow quite a lot bigger,and it does seem to grow quite fast.It is also smothered in ivy.
  As you can imagine,its causing a number of problems.I dont want to just leave this area empty,as it is about a quarter of the whole garden.The lawn has to go,as it is brown throughout the whole summer,and any kind of paving is out of the question,because of the huge roots everywhere.Gravel is also out,as due to the ivy,its like autumn all year round,dead leaves everywhere,not to mention the ivy seedlings,.Any suggestions of what i can plant here,its bone dry thanks to the evil tree,and also fairly shady.thanks.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  This certainly sounds to be a problem - and it raises many issues.
  
  Firstly, the tree could grown another 50 ft, depending on its exact variety. That's a worse-case scenario, but there could be a lot more growth in future years! I'm not sure about the spread of the roots - 30 ft from the house seems a reasonable distance, since it sounds as if you are worried about house foundations being compromised.
  
  You do have a legal right to cut roots out that are on your property - but this could cause the tree to be unstable/die. Perhaps you could chat to your neighbour to see if there's something that they could do?
  
  If you can't sort anything out, then you are left with a very difficult area to garden. You could use pebbles or slate chippings rather than gravel, and invest in a leaf blower/vacuum to deal with the perpetual problem of leaves (the larger stones would not be sucked up by the machine, but the leaves would). The ivy would still have to be pulled out by hand, though.
  
  You could then, perhaps, invest in some large containers that could be planted up, selecting plants that would cope with the shade.
  
  That's the best I can come up with atm. I wonder what other people's thoughts are?
  
  PHJ
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by jools (U14474476) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  Thanks for your reply.I was also thinking along the pebbles line,don,t know why it didn,t occur to me to get a leaf vac,(are they expensive?).
  
  The neighbours are aware that this tree is causing a problem,as I politely spoke to them about it last year,but I doubt they will do anything about it.Several years ago we had japanese knotweed coming through from their garden,and despite my asking,they did nothing.It is surprising,as they are very keen gardeners themselves.The council have recently sent them a letter,but we will see.
  
  Its not the house foundations that worry me,its the sheer height,and how it blows about in high winds.I took another look today,and I think that 30 foot is quite generous,in fact its more like 20 foot away.I don,t think it can affect the foundations as its on a higher level than the house>Its hard to explain,but the house is on a hill,and there is a path around the building,and the garden is higher,with a retaining wall.The roots are begining to push at this now.
  
  I think I have to admit defeat,as there is no way we can afford to get it removed.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  
  
  I think this is the link to a not dissimilar sort of tree problem discussed on the clinic board 20th June.
  
  Have a look - it may help you further, if only to give you some thoughts on a course of action. I think I would push to get this sorted sooner rather than later - I can't quite visualise the garden, but it does seem that there will be a continuing problem with the path and retaining wall. And it will get worse with time.
  
  I don't think blower/vacs are desparately expensive - we bought ours some years ago, and it has proved to be a boon, expecially during the autumn.
  
  Your neighbours sound as if they are a bit problematic - you may need to be assertive, especially if you have had the dreaded Japanese Knotweed coming through as well.
  
  Good luck! Let us know how you get on!
  
  PHJ

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by jools (U14474476) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  A few things I should have mentioned.Its actually my mums garden,I call it my garden as I look after it for her,(as well as my own).Its actually a council house,where as,theirs is private.A few weeks ago,the garden was judged in a competition.One of the judges mentioned the tree,and said she wasn,t happy about it,which is how the letter came to be sent.Her main concern was the ivy ,and that it will eventually kill it(I live in hope,its been years,and it hasn,t happened yet).She told me that they can not make them remove the tree,that actually,they can not even make them remove the ivy,so it all seemed rather pointless.
  
  My mum has no insurance,she is on a widows pension,and can not afford it.
  
  I see that my mum is an impossible situation,as the tree is not causing a danger as such,(unless we have another hurricane maybe),nor is it causing a hazard really.Its really just the damage it is doing to our very beautiful garden.I feel quite upset that this counts for nothing.

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Sunday, 8th August 2010

  jools,
  
  I think you should approach the council, as it's their property that may be threatened.
  
  Joe

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by jools (U14474476) on Monday, 9th August 2010

  Hello joe.I really need to find out where we stand from a legal point of veiw.The tree roots are causing damage,to the small,(10 inch)retaing wall to the side of it.My mum certainly couldnt afford to have it replaced,and it is holding the garden back from a pathway.As yet there is no damage to the two foot retaining wall to the front,but the roots are getting ever closer.As has been said here,I can chop through any roots that are in our garden,but as that would amount to a good half,I am worried about the consequenses of it actually killing th tree.

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 7.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Tuesday, 10th August 2010

  I'd still go with Msg 6 if this is the Council's property.

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by jools (U14474476) on Wednesday, 11th August 2010

  Its certainly worth talking to them Joe.

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by claire (U14571809) on Wednesday, 11th August 2010

  Can i just ask... If the tree happened to die and it fell would it cause any damage to your mums property?

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Thursday, 12th August 2010

  jools,
  
  I would even go so far as to say that if you are aware of a danger to the property and don't tell the landlord (Council) you might be in breach of your tenancy agreement.
  
  Joe

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by jools (U14474476) on Thursday, 12th August 2010

  Joe,that is a good point.The lady who was concerned about the tree,well more the ivy strangling it,(causing its demise i assume/hope),was in fact from the maintainance department.It was her who decided to send a letter to the neighbours.I think I will ring the council tomorrow to find out more.To be honest,I think there is only a danger if we had some very strong winds.
  
  Claire,assuming it fell our way,which I am guessing is probable,as it leans towards our garden,then yes.As well as damage to the garden,(the weight would surely take out the retaing walls),it would land on the outhouse(which is attached to the house),possibly hit the roof of the main building.Of course it could fall onto our side neighbours shed and patio and take out their new fence.Or it could fall their way onto their annex,(Where her mother lives,I,d hope she wasn,t in there at the time though).

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