Magnolia fell

[TOMLEAF]

I have been asked to fell a small magnolia situated in the corner or a courtyard garden encased by two houses. Not a problem.. However My client also asked me to poison the stump left. Something I was once told was if there is a structural building concern then by poisoning the stump and the subsequent narrowing of the roots and hence the change in structural composition of the soil you can do as much damage this way as you could by leaving it alive in place. Interesting theory but it seems a no win situation, advice appreciated?

[Al Mondz]

Not sure, but would Magnolia regen from a stump ? I don't think so, so poison would be a waste of time. Also in time the stump and roots will rot away surely. So the same problem would happen, all be it at a slower rate.

[jeffreynevil]

I agree that over time it is more than likely that the stump and roots will rot away and not cause too many problems. This is a decent resource with regards to stump removal - Stump Removal, Tree Stump Grinding & Grinder Services in Surrey, UK

[Paul Melarange]

I have been asked to fell a small magnolia situated in the corner or a courtyard garden encased by two houses. Not a problem.. However My client also asked me to poison the stump left. Something I was once told was if there is a structural building concern then by poisoning the stump and the subsequent narrowing of the roots and hence the change in structural composition of the soil you can do as much damage this way as you could by leaving it alive in place. Interesting theory but it seems a no win situation, advice appreciated?

 

Unless tree roots are causing direct damage to structures I.e. the incremental growth of the root is displacing and/or distorting what is immediately adjacent to it (such as paving or a brick wall), it is not so much about the roots themselves but more about the influence of the trees water uptake on the soil and the changes in soil volume associated with this.

 

Obviously if a cut tree regrows the water uptake will gradually increase, if you kill the tree, regardless of using poison or not, the uptake of water will cease.

 

Poison is unlikely to affect the rate that roots break down in the soil. So in terms of roots that might be causing direct damage I shouldn't think it would make any difference either.

[Gary Prentice]

Poison is unlikely to affect the rate that roots break down in the soil.

 

I wonder if poison could even inhibit fungal colonization and degradation?

[Paul Melarange]

I wonder if poison could even inhibit fungal colonization and degradation?

 

I considered this when writing my earlier post. My thinking was that herbicides such as Glyphosate supposedly break down quite quickly and therefore probably wouldn't affect significantly the colonisation of the killed roots by decomposers.

 

However, on reflection, I've been wondering whether this is indeed the case.

 

I recon it would make an ideal research project for a degree student or even a level 6 diploma............Gary? 😀

 

It was really good to finally meet you the other day. Hope you found the workshop sessions at the conference useful?

Edited September 25, 2015 by Paul Melarange