What to do with this this tree?

Hi all

There is a tree at the bottom of my garden which in the last 10 years has grown from about 5ft to its present height of maybe 20 or 30ft. I like the tree, but it is getting a bit above its station. It blocks too much sunlight, and perhaps more worryingly, because our house is on a valley side, after our garden is a retaining wall then a 10ft drop. I'm worried that the tree is now big enough and heavy enough to leaver the wall down if we get a good gale in the winter. I don't want rid of the tree, but it needs a good haircut and height reduction. Any tips?

Here it is:


And here's a shot of the lower portion of it in better light.

 

Hi clueless1,

An overall crown reduction and/or thin would start to solve both the problems of light blocking and wind damage. I'd suggest getting a professional in to do the work so as to avoid any possible damage to the tree, garden, yourself, neighbours etc. etc.

 

Thanks, but I do plan to have a go at it myself, though in winter when its dormant and has shed its leaves.

The house is rented so I don't want to pay anyone to do it, and the landlord doesn't seem to care much either way. There is no risk to the neighbours, as I'll do the work when they are not likely to get in the way, but I have to admit I have considered the very real possibility of me falling out of the tree or some other such mishap. I'll wear lots of layers and my old leather jacket for padding just in case

The main trunk divides into two about 8 ft up, and there are plenty of side branches off each. I thought I't take both forks of the trunk off about a couple of foot up so that plenty of side branches are left, and reduce the length of the longer remaining branches by about a third. Does that sound sensible? (as far as me doing it myself is sensible at all I mean)?

 

Looks like Robinia Frisia. The Frisia variety are being hit by a virus(vascular wilt) and many are dieing off all over the country. Around here I have felled two dead ones and know of four others that are dieing.

As it apears healthy, I would either leave well alone or fell altogether.... IMO pruning will probably lead to it dieing as the exposed wounds will be an opening for pathodgens.


Heres a bit from the RHS site on vascular wilt:

http://www.wwww.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0708/robinia.asp

 

That's worrying Pro, I don't want it to die off. Now I'm not sure what to do for the best. I have suspicions that the retaining wall just behind the tree will be in danger of busting under the weight and leverage of our tree, plus if you look to the right of my tree in the pics, you'll see there is a large silver birch which belongs to the neighbour, and will also be applying lots of weight and leverage to the same retaining wall. Whatever I do, I'd do it in winter when hopefully these pathogens aren't about and sap isn't flowing to carry any that are about into the rest of the tree's system.

It seems my options are:
* Leave it be and risk the whole lot breaching the retaining wall in a strong wind (not that likely yet, but increasingly likely as it grows bigger and heavier)
* Chop it back to save make sure it doesn't breach the retaining wall but risk losing it to disease
* Chop it right down and definitely lose it.

I guess the risk to the wall outweighs the risk to the tree, but obviously I want to minimise the risks as much as possible.

 

As for pruning, I would avoid topping it as you describe and stick to thinning out the canopy as treesurfer suggests.

The pruning you suggested would IMO be too harsh and will lead to water shoots from the topping point as well as stressing the tree.

If you do prune then sterilize your pruning saw before work and between cuts just as when pruning fruit trees.

 

Prune to maintain shape, just lopping off would look ametuerish - which we know you are not

 

Whatever you choose Clueless-make sure your landlord says yes to it-any consequences-no matter how remote they may seem would be yours to bear. And as the tree technically is the property of the owner you need permission-God forbid an accident may occur -and gust of wind blowing something out of your hand and onto a neighbours property-perhaps child.

 

I am an amatuer But yes, I hear what you say, I wasn't going to simply top it, I was going to cut the two forks of the trunk in such a way that there are plenty of smaller vertical branches, and reduce the length of some of the horizontal ones, in an attempt to retain the basic shape of the tree but on a smaller scale.

I am mulling over whether to ask the landlord or not. You are right in what you say, but there is also the possibility that he will send someone round who doesn't know how to do the job, or care, and who will trample all over the flower bed to get to the tree, rather than going round. I say this because he once sent a plasterer to replace a piece of the ceiling that had fallen down, said plasterer came in, didn't wipe his feet, didn't put dust covers over anything, and even put his mucky plaster bucket on our furniture. The wife had left him to get on with it and got out of his way. When she came back into the living room and saw the mess he'd left and the plaster stains on the furniture, she was reduced to tears. The landlord himself is actually a good lad, but some of his minions are not, and it would be his minions that would come round to do the work, if anyone bothered at all.

 

I understand only too well unfortunately, and it is to be hoped you got recompense for your stained furniture.

You don't have to let him get someone in for the job, as long as he knows you are doing it, just don't go breaking your neck eh.