Chicken bald back

[Janepie33]

We have a rather large silver birch tree (around 30 feet) in our tiny front garden. When we moved into our house 23 years ago we could look down on it from our bedroom window and now it waves about above the house.

It gives great shade and protection to our pond and attracts a whole host of birds which are a joy to watch.

 

But.......

The branches are now overhanging the pavement and are trying to get into the bedroom.

They are also touching overhead cables and the roots are pushing up our path and the pavement outside.

I can't park my car under it at this time of year as it gets covered in sap, leaves and old catkins.

 

Over the years we have had many tree surgeons knocking on our door and offering to prune or chop it down for prices ranging from £80 to £300.

 

The dilemma is, should we prune the tree or chop it down completely? The thought of chopping it down makes me feel that I am about to commit murder!

 

I have read on line and in books that you should only prune silver birches in the autumn, but the travelling tree surgeons assure me that you can prune them at any time of the year.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[Olly]

Honest answer - get rid of it. Pruning will only slow it down, you'll still have the root problem, the sap etc in future, and you'll need to pay to get it pruned again.

 

In the forest, birch is what grows first and shelters things like oak - then they come crashing down in a storm and the oaks survive. Birch trees are not long-lived compared to other trees and in my view they aren't suitable for urban gardens. Get rid and replace it with something more suitable - rowan or cherry for example.

[bluekarin]

We have one in our front garden and I am in a similar dilemma. It's not as big as yours, but it is lifting our brick path and I do worry about what damage the roots are doing. I would advice pruning in autumn/ winter as the sap won't run as much. I have pruned the odd branch and the amount of sap that pours out is quite incredible! I have read you can root prune as well, to keep it in an area, but I am not sure about that. We were meant to prune ours right back at the beginning of the year, but failed to, so I think we will do it this winter and then reevaluate the situation. I have seen a couple of seedlings in one of my pots nearby so I think I will get them growing, in a pot this time, and then I won't feel quite so bad when we do chop it down. Like you, it would make me sad, especially as the tiny birds seem to love it and it's a haven for ladybirds.

[Daphne]

I'd also say get rid of it, as it sounds as though it is really interfering with your life We had a cherry tree pruned by the electricity company or BT last winter as it was interfering with a cable, that made me a bit embarrassed. Birches are fast growing, and can almost be considered as a weed tree in some areas (like where I live in East Sussex, we have extensive copses of them, and they routinely escape into gardens), so don't be worried that you are depriving birds/bees etc of habitat, there will be plenty of replacements around and about.

 

The advice to prune in autumn/winter when they are dormant is because they bleed profusely, which can weaken them severely, but if you are having it removed as opposed to pruned, then it doesn't matter. Neighbours keep having to have them taken down, the good news is that you will have a decent supply of firewood in quite a short space of time, although its not the best, it burns quite fast.

 

Just think of the fun you can have choosing a replacement

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree, get rid. Try not to feel sentimental or cruel (difficult I know ) and give a new young tree a good home .

[sjp]

talk to local council first in case there's a tree preservation order in place it should only be a formality if it's causing damage and to close to dwellings but it's better to safe than in court they might have a list of reputable tree surgeons as well

[Charlottechicken]

If you do contact your council regarding tree preservation orders, try and do a search on their website first, it's not unknown for a council to be asked if a TPO is on a certain tree, for them to reply "there is now!".

 

I would also have it removed, we had three trees chopped down and an Oak thinned, all trees were over 30 feet high and it cost £450 for the lot. We used a tree surgeon who lives in the village, and is fully qualified and insured. The garden is so much better with just one nice tree in it. We are still splitting the logs that the tree surgeon left too!

[Janepie33]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like it will have to go.

 

I have looked on the council website and we don't seem to have a TPO.

 

SJP, thanks for the tip, the council have a long list of qualified, insured tree surgeons. I have e mailed a couple for advice and a quote.

[Janepie33]

Oh dear. Still haven't decided!

 

 

 

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/s960x960/11782505_10206063065790212_7649165795111838635_o.jpg

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh wow . That has outgrown the house somewhat .

[Daphne]

Its a lovely looking tree..... but I'd still go for it Your neighbours might be pleased too

[Charlottechicken]

I wouldn't have a tree that close to my house!

 

We had an ash removed from the corner of the drive, it was over 30 feet high and 25 feet from the house, right next to the highway too. All the locals we spoke to about it were delighted when it was removed, and we have lots of wood for a woodburner in future

[Cat tails]

You can always first prune and decide on removal if the pruning doesn't work out. It will give you a bit more time to think about it and get adjusted to it not being there.

I would get the tree surgeon to remove the bottom branches mostly, so you have a longer empty stem, giving you more light in the house and garden. You could ask them to do a stress test on the tree too.

[Janepie33]

After months of deliberation, the tree has now............ gone!

 

Feeling a bit sad.

[Olly]

Thank it for providing shelter and decorating your garden, but know that you've decided to do the right thing. It wasn't meant to last for centuries like yew or oak.

 

Now - what are you going to plant instead?

[Janepie33]

Thanks Olly.

Think we'll plant something very small and slow growing. Like a snowdrop!

[Cat tails]

What about a nice fruit tree? Pear or cherry or something? With regular pruning they rarely reach higher than 3 m.

[Janepie33]

We will probably move a little olive tree we have planted in the back garden into the front garden. Apparently olive trees don't mind being pruned, dug up and moved. We will wait till the spring, but start preparing the ground quite soon.

[Charlottechicken]

Have you moved you little olive tree to the front garden yet?

 

Would love to see a pic of the garden without the tree

[Janepie33]

Hi Charlotte Chicken. Planning to move the olive tree when the weather gets a bit warmer.

 

Treeless house!

[Charlottechicken]

Ooh lovely, bet it is much lighter inside now

 

What do your neighbours think of the treeless garden?

[Janepie33]

Most people seem to love it but my family keep complaining that they can't find the house without the landmark!

Yes it is lighter inside and no noisy magpies and parakeets to wake us up in the morning!

 

[JellyBean2605]

we removed a cherry tree from the bottom of our drive last year and haven't regretted it. the next door neighbours detested it and asked us about it when we moved in but we forgot. then when we got windows fitted by the neighbour he bought it up again offering to pay for its removal and we felt really guilty so chopped it down ourselves the next day! the neighbour was chuffed to bits (even came to help when he saw what we were doing) and i can't say i miss the mess or how dark it made the house. i did feel bad about it but it had a good life and really was too big.