William Clifford

Do you think so? To have such a sudden effect on a large tree, and what is causing the few leaves to grow in such distorted clusters - and to be discoloured? My thinking is that a poison is affecting the growth and the chlorophyll in the leaves. Or am I off the mark??

Hi all, I worked on this Sycamore last summer and it seemed in good health. We carried out a crown raise and due to a lot of pressure from neighbours, the owners finally relented and instructed us to remove one of the stems - which you will be able to make out in the photos. I have been called again because they have noticed it doesn't have so many leaves this year. Looking at the leaves that have shot from the base and even the water shoot from a branch, I am thinking poisoning. The other small plants around the small (dead!) Crab Apple (which I think from memory was alive last year), look yellow etc. This could be the recent weather, but the whole area looks like it has been given a dose of poison. I'm wondering if the LA has been past spraying the alleyway including the wound where the stem was removed, or if someone who wanted the tree removing previously has had an input. Anyway, from the pictures of those distorted leaves, what do you think is happening? The tall thin Sycamore next to it is looking rather sparse, the final one along is still looking healthy. Thanks.

The homeowner has said that the current extension has foundations to a depth of 1 meter and that the new garage will need foundations to 1.5 meters according to the survey. I / we are not sure what type of foundations. I don't claim to know anything about buildings and have said this to the client suggesting she asks the builder if they think the extension has been built to take the tree and soil type into consideration. She felt that as the building regs visited site and said that 1 meter was enough, that they would have taken these things into account. The result is that the tree has been removed Monday, with an email to me clarifying that they have requested for me to remove the tree and that I haven't given any assurances or otherwise about the affects of the tree roots and the removal on the building. Indeed, I have said it is impossible to give any guarantees either way, so, decision has been made. Thank you for the input!

Hi all, I was called to a property to quote for some work which included the request to take this Cherry Plum down in stages due to a garage being built in approx 3 months. The advice to remove the tree in stages had been given by a surveyor I believe. The garage will be roughly this side of the wooden shed seen in the pic. The homeowner told me that the ground is clay. I advised that it is no longer advisable to remove a tree in stages, but was asked the following questions: - Would the recently built extension (nearest the car) be at risk of heave if the tree was removed in one go? I felt that the risk was very small, but that it also depends on the foundations and that there is no definite answer. - Would it be best to remove completely before the garage is built? - Should there be a period of time allowed to pass between felling and building? - Is it best to leave the tree in and build? I would think that it would be best to remove the tree first (though it is no sizeable monster), and allow the ground time to adjust to the tree not being there before building the garage- how long would this take? And in relation to the present extension, expect not to suffer from heave but this cannot be guaranteed of course. Opinions and advice please? Thank you.

Hi Eddie, Thanks for that. I only contacted a couple of places to be fair, and the other place I knew of up there had closed down. When I thought it was going to be hopeless, I was then offered Motomix so started to look into it. I'll PM the places I tried, you might be able to get it stocked, but have since found the dealer map ( https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=m&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=200058646586976568264.0004a59773da653195e09 ) which you probably know of! The one near Scarborough should do me fine for the occasions we need a top up. PM on way. Cheers.

Thanks! Have managed to find a map of Aspen dealers and there seems to be one within an hours drive. Will give them a ring on Mon. So Motomix doesn't have the additives in it that pump petrol does, that damages the rubbers and seals etc over time? It sounds like Motomix is very similar, as you are saying, to Aspen2. I guess you could switch between the two fuels without noticing? And that pump petrol is related, but in a different family.

Hi, Does anyone know about Stihl Motomix? I'm looking at it for my father as he only uses his saws etc once in a blue moon. I would go for Aspen over normal petrol mix as I don't want the petrol going off and maybe damaging his saw. Trouble is I've rang a few places near Whitby where he lives and I can't even find anybody who knows what Aspen is! Let alone it being within a decent distance to collect. Read about Motomix a bit as he can get it up there, but it's still petrol, albeit without the ethanol content. Anyone have any experience or knowledge about how this compares with normal 2 stroke petrol mix and Aspen in terms of degrading of saw parts and rubbers coping with it sitting in the tank for up to 6 months at a time etc etc. Presuming no adjustments would be needed on the saw (Husqvarna 135). Thanks.