silver birch dilemna

Now, I recognise that if i were a REAL apprentice gardener, I would be on a final written warning by now, but as long as i admit that I am high in ambition and short on common sense, I'm hoping you will humour me.
About 8 years ago, i planted a twig that was apparantly a juvenile silver birch tree in an area 6 foot from the end of my tiny 40 ft victorian terrace garden......yeah, i can already hear foreheads being slapped and a few sniggers..........unsurprisingly (to you!) it is now approacing 30 feet high..............it gets worse:(. at the end of the garden is an alley, then another house, at 90 degrees to my own.....a friend has suggested i take some urgent action before those neighbours detect something amiss with their plumbing and sue me!! is this a real potential issue or dare I continue to bury my head in the sand?

 

Hi Chatham

Don`t be so hard on yourself, it isn`t quite that bad, but I will hasten to add -yet.

I am going to sound a bit like a Mum now (well I am one), but the longer you leave it, the harder the job will be.

Does it mean it is @40ft away from your house? How far from the other house is it?

 

About 10 ft from the other house:euw:and 30 + from mine!

 

Well have a look at this I just copied and pasted from another site


Species Mature height Safe distance

Beech --20m (66ft) --15m (50ft)
Birch --14m (42ft) ---10m (33ft)
Cherry --17m (55ft) --11m (36ft)
Elm -----25m (81ft)--- 30m (99ft)
Hawthorn 10m (33ft)--- 12m (40ft)
Horse Chestnut 20m (66ft) 23m (75ft)
Lime------ 24m (79ft) ----20m (66ft)
Maple---- 21m (69ft) -----20m (66ft)
Oak ------24m (79ft)------ 30m (99ft)
Pine------ 29m (95ft) ------8m (26ft)
Sycamore- 24m (79ft) -----17m (55ft)
Willow -----24m (79ft)---- 40m (132ft)

I think that just about makes you fine, but maybe not the neighbour, if you like the tree just keep it til you get a complaint and then see what you think

 

I wouldn't worry too much. Silver Birches were a developers favourite round here in the 60's and 70's and there are many that fit your distance description. Done at the right time of year I have seen some excellent pollarding on silver birches. Might be worth a professional haircut to show to your neighbours you are a responsible tree owner.:thmb:

It also depends on your soil type. Personally my trees don't make any of those distances and I don't lose any sleep.

 

I have a small silver birch tree. I backed Silver Birch in the Grand National last year and bought a sapling with the winnings. I planted it at the bottom of the garden. Having read the thread I am so pleased its away from any neighbours!

 

Probably best to take it down, in comparitive terms birch have a shortish life span, 10' distance to the next door house is sadly too close.

Remember you can always reeplant (in a different position) with something more suited a nice hawthorn like pauls scarlet perhaps.

 

Hi Chatham Tangle,

Silver birches grow relatively quickly and, as Pro Gard said, have a short life span of about 80 years or so. The tree information that lollipop73 posted should be taken with a pinch of salt as the tree's environment plays an important factor in it's size and spread. Silver birches, as a species, don't take particularly well to heavy pruning so if you do take some remedial pruning you may have to take it lightly as first and keep it small - try not to cut the top clean off. For peace of mind and as a low maintenance option I agree with Pro gard - take it out and replant with a more suitable species.

 

The chart came from Norwich Unions website about safe distances from buildings etc. As with all insurance stuff, I concur with Treesurfers advice to take it with a pinch of salt.