Leaf testing for poisoning

[Nell]

A tree specialist has looked at 3 trees in my garden and come to the conclusion that the near death of them ( their leaves suddenly discolured and dropped May/June last year ) is due to malicious damage.

There is one hawthorn and two large sycamores. The sycamores were in the garden when we bought the house about 30 years ago and so were large ,well established trees. Last year they came into leaf in the spring and looked normal until the sudden loss of leaves.

I was told last year ( by a different person )  that it was probably due to environmental issues and it was suggested that I needed to water the trees - 2 other sycamores in the same line were unaffected however.

I hoped that this year the trees may have recovered but apart from small clumps of foliage emerging from the trunks the branches are bare and looking brittle 

The neighbours whose gardens adjoin the line of trees have tried to get me to remove the trees since they moved in but I pointed out to them that the trees were very obvious when they bought the property and if the trees were causing issues their survey would have highlighted this

Anyway, I have been told I could have the foliage tested for signs of poison but this is costly and as the damage was inflicted last year I wondered if the poison would still be evident.

I have a tree surgeon coming next week to take off the dead wood and I need to decide if I want him to harvest some of the foliage to send for testing.

Does anyone know of other places other than Bartletts lab that offer this service so I could get a price comparison?

[Steve Bullman]

How much do bartletts charge for something like this?

I think you need to take into consideration what your next step would be if it turned out they were poisoned. I’d imagine it would be next to impossible to prove it was the work of your neighbours. 

[Nell]

Bartletts charge £510 + vat for full suite chemical analysis and £240 + vat for glyphoshate/ AMPA test ( I'm not sure what AMPA is )

I have letters that the neighbours have sent regarding the trees and may consider takingegal action for criminal damage.

[Mark Bolam]

Just spend the money on a huge banner  spanning the full height and width of the trees saying ‘THESE TREES WERE POISONED’ and string it up between the dead stems.

[Retired Climber]

You'd never convince a criminal court based on the above, but should stand a fair chance of winning a civil action. 

[Nell]

Thank you for your suggestions. Does anyone know how long the poison would be evident in the leaves and are there other labs that will test for poisoning ?

My son has suggested having the trees carved into a giant V sign.

[Mark Bolam]

I agree with that to some extent RC, but there’s still no proof.

Heavy circumstantial evidence, yes.

[Mark Bolam]

For what it’s worth Nell, I totally sympathise with your situation, especially so with the age of the trees.

 

Poisoning them was a bastards trick of the highest order.

[monkeybusiness]

55 minutes ago, Nell said:

Bartletts charge £510 + vat for full suite chemical analysis and £240 + vat for glyphoshate/ AMPA test ( I'm not sure what AMPA is )

I have letters that the neighbours have sent regarding the trees and may consider takingegal action for criminal damage.

Just pay for the glyphosate/ampa test as this is the most likely chemical used for poisoning if you wish to go down that route (glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup). I can’t suggest any other firms who could test for a comparison price though I’m afraid (for once I don’t actually think Bartlett’s price is too strong in reality). 

[Stubby]

5 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

Just pay for the glyphosate/ampa test as this is the most likely chemical used for poisoning if you wish to go down that route (glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup). I can’t suggest any other firms who could test for a comparison price though I’m afraid (for once I don’t actually think Bartlett’s price is too strong in reality). 

This is what I would have suggested but even if there is a positive result for glyphosate proving  who did it is pretty much impossible . I feel for you bud . 

[monkeybusiness]

48 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Just spend the money on a huge banner  spanning the full height and width of the trees saying ‘THESE TREES WERE POISONED’ and string it up between the dead stems.

This is the Ozzy way I believe - people who illegally fell trees to gain a view around Sydney harbour are punished by the local authority erecting massive billboards blocking said view and proclaiming the dirty deed. Fantastic!