Goat Willow Questions

[MattJUK]

Hi

 

We're growing a bit anxious about a goat willow located fairly close to our house. If anyone out there can calm us down that'd be appreciated!

 

We're based in NW England on what I think is clay soil (SK4 3PG). We have a mature goat willow located 14 metres from the rear of our house (14 metres from a single storey extensions but in 2029 and 17 metres from the original house).

 

We haven't noticed any concerning cracks or anything in the house, but have become concerned that the proximity of the tree may cause us problems in the future. Any ideas of what to do? Prune fairly regularly to keep its size manageable for example?

 

I've included a photo below. It looks to be about 10m in height. The right side appears (which would hang over the neighbours fence) appears to have been chopped back quite heavily over the years. There is also a large branch that appears to now be dead (the section without any leaves on). It appears to have been insitu for at least 30 years as Google satellite from 2005 appears to show it as a mature tree back then.

 

Any ideas welcome. If someone can suggest that risks of future subsidence are very low that would be appreciated! If you would recommend we get a soil sample etc done then recommendations for someone in the NW would be appreciated too.

 

Thanks

 

Matt

[Mick Dempsey]

It’s basically rubbish, a self sown weed of a tree.

Not massive roots.

Take it out if it’s yours, to allay your worries, but I’d say you’ve nothing to worry about.

Edited May 4 by Mick Dempsey

[MattJUK]

Thanks Mick. Poor tree being described as a weed! Are they pretty common in the UK?

 

Would welcome any thoughts anyone else has.

[Steve Bullman]

I agree with Mick. That’s a tree for a woodland, lake side etc etc, not a small back garden. you’ll inevitably have to cut it back at some point and thereafter it will look hideous. I’d have it out while it was small and cheap(er) to do so 

[Mick Dempsey]

23 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

you’ll inevitably have to cut it back at some point and thereafter it will look hideous. 

 

 

 

Cos it’s pretty as a picture now of course!

[MattJUK]

2 hours ago, Steve Bullman said:

I agree with Mick. That’s a tree for a woodland, lake side etc etc, not a small back garden. you’ll inevitably have to cut it back at some point and thereafter it will look hideous. I’d have it out while it was small and cheap(er) to do so 

 

Agree that it isn't the prettiest! Only plus side to it is it gives a good amount of privacy from the house behind.

 

Any worries with its proximity to the house? It's just under 15m away which seems fine under the NHBC thresholds.

[peds]

Goat willows are a lovely tree, and you can easily keep them whatever size you want. Cut it down to the ground and let it coppice, and just do that every 3/4/5 years if you want. 

Great early season forage for pollinators and habitat for all sorts of beasties. If you have nothing else lined up to replace it, I'd keep it personally... but, as I say, coppiced occasionally. 

 

I'm lucky though, I've got 40-odd goat willows of various sizes.

 

[Welshfred]

I would pollard to a convenient working height (3-4 ft?) then repeat every 1-? years depending how big you want it. And how much stuff you want to harvest each time. The waste you could chip for paths or mulch, shred for compost, weave for garden hurdles, dry for the log burner etc etc etc depending on size. 

Then you keep the tree for all its benefits but avoid the normal growth cycle of goat willow which is grow fast, grow big, fall over, keep growing fast and big, falling over, repeat, repeat, repeat. Great habitat, shit in a garden. Keep it small.

No idea about the roots though. Dig some holes to check?

[Welshfred]

I only say pollard rather than coppice because it'll spread less at ground level and you get a nice interesting gnarly trunk quite quick, in just a few years.

[peds]

Yep, I agree. A lovely 3 foot stump, rippled and gnarly, riddled with holes, crawling with life... perfect. 

[MattJUK]

Thank you. Thay is really helpful. Does it make any difference if the tree is 30/40 years old in terms of coppicing or pollarding? Apologies, very new to all of this.