Lawson Cypress removal

[Graham Robins]

Hi guys,

 

We purchased a property in February of this year, and we have an angry Lawson Cypress in the front garden. The previous owners lived at the property for 20 years, and haven't kept on top of it.

 

I've spoken to a local tree consultant who confirmed the species, and the reason I got in touch with him was that it has come to light since buying that there is a drain all of two feet away from it.

 

This has already blocked on us once since us living there with fibrous roots. He said the only way to avoid it blocking again it was to have the tree taken down. 

 

Drains run along the back of the houses to the left of ours, into a manhole in our back garden, down our drive, to the manhole next to the tree and into the sewer in the road.

 

I've been in touch with the L/A and they've confirmed there is no TPO on it, and that we can go ahead with removal.

 

The tree towers well above the house, and it's an accident waiting to happen.

 

Anyway, the reason i'm writing on here is for your views in regards to 'heave'. The consultant sent me to the Landis site to check our soil type and he said as long as it's not clay we should be okay. According to Landis, our soil type is 'loamy'.

 

I've had a local arborist over to price up the removal and stump grind, and happy with everything in that regard.

 

The trouble is, i've read so much stuff online about heave and subsidence that i've scared myself half to death and it's literally driving me insane.

 

The arborist who inspected the tree said that particular species of conifer has a main tap root with smaller ground roots and that he doesn't think it will present any issues of heave once removed.

 

The trunk, by the way, is eight metres from our front door.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cpY5LZVURcEbjzqb7

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DCKDvzbmPNH5AUxa8

 

I'm not disbelieving the tree surgeon that is going to remove the tree, but I've read so much conflicting advice online that I just wanted to get your views.

 

I'm a bit of a worrier as you can probably tell, but just want to do the right thing!

 

Thanks in advance.

Graham

[Dan Maynard]

Main reason for not grinding is to save cost. Put a plant pot on the stump to make a feature.

There is also a wildlife conservation argument about the value of decaying wood to invertebrates and fungi in the soil, but it's your garden not a woodland so up to you how the manage it.