Tree close to house

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Permalink Reply by Gordon T on July 7, 2015 at 21:46

1) How big is the tree?

2) VERY roughly, the spread of the roots underground is equivalent to the spread of the branches above ground.

3) Abstraction of water by the roots, even (by diffusion) beyond the notional spread of the roots, can affect the shallow foundations of Victorian houses as in the Ladder/the Gardens, particularly in prolonged dry spells.

4) Is your neighbour/their landlord if applicable, approachable?

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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on July 7, 2015 at 22:12

They grow quickly and get big . You don't want them too close to the house if you can help it. Keep the sun south of them at least. They multiply like rabbits as well. I've got a load at the back of my house and we do get a heck of a lot of wildlife especially birds but I think it's down to the hawthorn if the truth be known.

The owls aren't interested, come for a couple of nights then bugger off., no holes or nobbily bits to sit on or in, prefer the oaks.

Also too many seeds kill pond life, so you will need a net and sometimes they drip goo, all sticky like, onto your beak.

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Permalink Reply by Sticky beak on July 9, 2015 at 16:28

yes the owner and yes approachable.  I actually like the tree so wanted to know if it was going to cause problems but I gather from the responses I may have to have a conversation with the owner after all

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Steve on July 7, 2015 at 22:18

It may be worth checking the small print in your buildings insurance - many will expect you to declare any tree where the height is greater than its distance from the house. Should the tree be the cause of subsidence then you are likely to want to be confident that you are covered. You may wish to contact your insurance company and explain the situation - they may log the information in case they need to make a claim against your neighbour or their insurance company. 

I hope this is of some help

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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on July 7, 2015 at 22:23

Think 6 meters was the question I was asked once.

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Permalink Reply by Sticky beak on July 9, 2015 at 16:26

This is a photo of the tree next to the house

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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on July 9, 2015 at 23:05

If that's the one on the right you will have light problems in five - ten years . They aren't native tree's, our wildlife doesn't love them. It's not a massive loss for it to be cut down. If it was replaced by a Hawthorne which would never take your light the wildlife would love the trade.

As it is, that is too close, not now but soon . At the end of the garden, northerly would be fine but right there, not great.

However, you have to appreciate that it's not your land, it's theirs, it's like telling someone how to look after their own child. I hope your Dungeons and Dragons Charisma score is high.

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