How best to deal with this copper beech

[Legohead]

Hi

 

I am about to buy a house, and initially was not that put off by the large copper beech in the front garden. I was just going to have it out. However now having done the research I am starting to think twice.

 

As you can see from the picture, the tree starts at ground level of the property to the right, and has a wall built around it. It is leaning on to this wall. It pre dates the house in the 1970 s I believe so quite a large soil deficit I would imagine. The house is sitting on some loamy, reasonably good draining soil at the top of a hill, leading down to a river, so I am assuming decent drainage down the hill. The house is one of those 3 level houses so it has a basement, and am worried about heave should I remove it, laterally onto the basement walls, and also the wall that borders the property to the right as you look at the picture. There is no subsidence issues and has never been. The structure of the house is good. But the tree certainly needs to be trimmed as it is touching the windows of the house. What should I do?

[TTP]

Firstly the tree was there first if your not prepared to live with it then buy another house. Tree roots tend to go round foundations rather than through them unless there is already damage for them to get in. To many people think they can just get rid of trees for no reason.

[Will C]

By all means have it pruned to keep it to a manageable size but if there are no problems caused by the tree you might cause some by taking the tree out, first thought would be heave.

 

More to the point it is a cracking looking tree, why would you want to remove it?

[Pete Bannister]

More to the point it is a cracking looking tree, it?

 

Was that deliberate? ho ho

[Adam M]

Buy a different house. There's plenty that look the same that don't have a tree out the front.

[sloth]

If subsidence or heave isn't already an issue then don't concern yourself with it- unless your insurers or mortgage lender asks for a report. Best advice above is if you don't want a big tree in your front garden then buy somewhere else!

The tree doesn't look very old, most likely planted soon after the house was built, so around 40 years old. That means if left untouched it will still be growing long after you are dead.

Is it subject to a TPO? Initiating a pollard is an option, this would keep it intermittently smaller (every 5-10yrs depending on growth rate), at a fairly modest cost from a decent tree surgeon- half day rate maybe. The other option is alow it to become a magnificent specimen and just trim from windows/gutters/road every couple of years and live with less sunlight in your windows.

Or fell it and have a lawn and a few roses, or a little weeping birch like the one to the left- which would be a crying shame in my opinion!

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Arbtalk mobile app

[Ian G 2]

I'm with all the rest think you should looking for different house with no trees

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

"If you don't like it buy another house" is a fairly abrupt and (perhaps) a little rash without knowing all the reasons that might make this house attractive to the potential purchaser. Looking to the positive, here's a proactive approach from what appears to be a rational and considerate (regarding trees) person. The next one along might just say "hey, that's the house for me, get that tree out of the way!"

 

It's an unfortunate reality that people make poor choices when planting and fail to consider the 10, 20, 30, 40+ year implications.

 

Unless it has or in the future gets a TPO, I wouldn't want to bet too much that this tree will survive unscathed. If it's not the new owner I'd bet the neighbours won't be too long before they're lobbying for reduction / removal.

[AlvinD]

If you like the house and don't like the tree just remove it. It's your tree (providing there's no protection). Do what you want with it. I wouldn't hesitate to do it if it were mine.

[geoff]

"If you don't like it buy another house" is a fairly abrupt and (perhaps) a little rash without knowing all the reasons that might make this house attractive to the potential purchaser. Looking to the positive, here's a proactive approach from what appears to be a rational and considerate (regarding trees) person. The next one along might just say "hey, that's the house for me, get that tree out of the way!"

 

It's an unfortunate reality that people make poor choices when planting and fail to consider the 10, 20, 30, 40+ year implications.

 

Unless it has or in the future gets a TPO, I wouldn't want to bet too much that this tree will survive unscathed. If it's not the new owner I'd bet the neighbours won't be too long before they're lobbying for reduction / removal.

 

Good level headed post, I like your thought process.

[Legohead]

Guys,

 

I am not a tree hater, but i am sure you would be worried if the tree blows down hits my property, the property to the right and left etc. I am liable. I quite like the tree as it offers some protection from the road out front. As you can see the tree is leaning a little and if i cut it back I am worried about heave. Only one answer so far has even mentioned heave. Any more guidance in this issue. As you can see this a 3 level house so the front garden is leaning up against a double bricked basement wall, as you would expect it would have to be strong with all the garden soil leaning against it. The retaining wall to the right appears strong and double bricked so if I raised the crown thinned it I think I would be ok with regards heave. There is some rot at the bottom of the tree, but the rest appears in good health. I have had a professional woodsmen look at it and he says the rot could go up the centre of the tree, and imposs to tell without sonar tests etc..but that rot could be there from years ago and might not be affecting tree at all.