Tree - should it stay or go?

I have a largish tree at the back of my garden

It seems to my very inexperienced eye to be block out the light and very little is growing under it. I did have someone in last year to trim it down but it's gone mental this year is the best thing just to get rid of it and try my hand at planting something in its place. The garden is south facing.

 

To my equally inexperienced eye, it seems to be leaning quite a lot too.

 

That may well be my bad photo. It's got a sort of twin trunk, and drops leaves all over the lawn which doesn't exactly fit in with my plan for an easy care garden.

 

I'd say there are a few things to think about as you decide.

The longer you leave it, the bigger it will get. If you do later decide to get rid, it will be more work. Also the longer its there, the more it will block the light from your and your neighbours gardens.

However, if we get loads of rain again, a big tree offers some shelter. Also if you get a really hot sunny spell, it will provide some welcome shade.

The leaves you have to rake up will give you an endless supply of leafmould, and mulch for your tender plants to keep them going through winter, but they will also need to be swept of the lawn regularly otherwise your lawn will suffer.

If you have kids, tree will be useful as a hide and seek place. Birds will also make plenty of use of the tree, which is a good thing but it also means there's increased risk of being pooed on in your own garden.

If you cut it down, you'll have more room and more light, but will the garden then look empty? Will it suffer more when the wind gets up?

Loads of things to consider. These are just a few off the top of my head.

 

Good advice thank you, I think the neighbour over the back would be glad to see the back of it, however I do feel guilty about the birds and the garden will look bare initially.
Theres probably 6 foot from the lawn to the fence that will need filling with plants as very little is growing under the tree at the minute.

 

Removing the visible parts of the tree is one thing; removing the stump and then the roots are another.

Is this something you would tackle yourself, or would you get a professional in?

 

I have a friend with a chain saw so thought we could get it cut down as low as possible myself and maybe hire a shredder to get rid of most of it?

 

It seems like it's quite a nice-looking tree and there's a lot to be said for the shade/height that it provides. Could it be pruned to keep it small? What would happen if you just got rid of one of the trunks, presumably reducing the bulk by about half? Which direction is most of the sun coming from in your garden? What would you see instead if the tree was missing? Who could see into your garden if the tree wasn't there?

Just a few thoughts, but you sound like you've 75% decided to get rid of it. It will make a dramatic difference to the feel of the garden, but remember, it's easy to take it away but hard to replace if you then decide you do need a tree of some sort. I think most gardens benefit from the height, all-year interest and screening which a tree provides.

 

I like the tree so I personally would keep it - not least because it looks like it provides some privacy as well

Perhaps you could post pics of the leaves so someone can identify it and you will then know how tall it is likely to grow.

 

Just a quick update, I called in a local tree expert and he said the tree would better off gone as it was getting out of control. So the tree went, I have removed the large Hebe? From under the the tree too as it was all overgrown and woody along with the evil out of control firethorn. Just got to start working out what to replace it all with now.



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It's nice to have an update. Doesn't it look different? Almost a different garden.

 

Now it has gone, and you can see the space you have to work with, the world is your oyster/seedling/garden buying bargain.

I've read your other thread about the photinia and will assume that you are going to cut it to shape to suit your needs/eye/aspect and that it will remain. I'm guessing that the pot beside your summer house has a hosta in it? This has possibly thrived due to the shade cast by the tree, which you have now had removed; you may, if you wish to keep the hosta, want to think about something which will give that pot/hosta the shade it needs.

You have a really good space there to really think about the things you like, what you want from that space in terms of colour, shade, no shade, year round interest vs seasonal interest and how you envisage it in 5 years time. I say 5 years time simply because you do need to consider the growth rate of anything you plant, how much work is involved in keeping it as you want it to be, and how much time you have to dedicate to getting your garden looking and feeling how you want it.

 

Thanks for the good advice. I never thought about the shade for the hostas. The Red Robin needs trimming as its grown all lopsided due to the tree. There was a Hebe under the tree which I've removed as it was all woody and overgrown, I hope to keep the holly bush but that too will need shaping.
I quite like the cottage garden look but any ideas and suggestions are welcome. Because of my lack of knowledge and experience I've been trying to find some planting plans / designs but they list all these plants that I cant seem to buy or find anywhere.

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