Ash tree - keep or chop?

twinklefish

I don't have a very big garden it’s sort of L shaped and at the end, it's narrower than at the house. There is a tree which I think is an Ash and it takes up most of the garden up at the end. It’s spreading over my garden, over the low fence to next door and almost hitting their shed and the garden at the back too. I like the idea of having a tree but, having chatted with the chap next door, I've discovered that the current growth is only 3 years! He used to maintain the garden for the old lady who sold me the house and 3 years ago pruned the tree back hard. It's already just about taller than the telegraph pole and it's going to be interfering with the cables soon! I've removed quite a lot of shoots from round the base in the last couple of weeks.

I don't mind the maintenance but I do think in the long run, it's too big a tree for the size of garden and even though the current neighbours haven’t really complained, I can see how it might cause problems in the future. Also, once it's in leaf I think it's going to cast a huge shadow over the sunniest part of my garden, next door on the right’s greenhouse and on the left’s patio.

If I get it removed, will I be left with a stump or can that be removed too? I’m assuming once it’s gone I’ll be left with ground I can’t use? What sort of cost would I be looking at for complete removal?

Tx

mineallmine

Hi, can I vote for keep? Friends of mine got rid of trees (in particular for their neighbours) and they now regret the lack of privacy they have.

Lotus-eater

If you take it down it's the best firewood you can get. Offer it on freecycle if you want it to be taken away for free.

I would say take it down from what you say, it doesn't matter what it costs, next year it will cost even more. Get the tree surgeon to kill the trunk and in a couple of years you can dig up the roots if you want and plant something else there. Think, not I've got this PITA tree trunk here, think, I've got this tree trunk here, what can I use it for? Like stick a seat on top of it, or something like that.

brownfrog

mineallmine wrote: »

Hi, can I vote for keep? Friends of mine got rid of trees (in particular for their neighbours) and they now regret the lack of privacy they have.

True - we've got hardly any trees in our garden, but it used to be quite private until the neighbours starting chopping theirs down. OTOH, this ash does sound far too big, and if the OP wants privacy, they could plant something really quick-growing that doesn't take up so much space - eg, bamboo (a clump-forming one such as Phyllostachys obviously, not a spreading one such as Sasa).

Mojisola

twinklefish wrote: »

I don't mind the maintenance but I do think in the long run, it's too big a tree for the size of garden and even though the current neighbours haven’t really complained, I can see how it might cause problems in the future.

This is the most important thing - it's going to be much too big for the space it's growing in. It could end up 30m high and 20m across!

I agree with everything Lotus-eater says.

When we were younger and fitter, we have taken down trees bigger than this one. Take down most of the wood and leave a stump about 4 - 5ft. Dig around the base and cut through the roots as you expose them. Rock the trunk back and forth to loosen it - more roots will usually show and you can cut through them. Eventually the trunk will come out and you will have a clear piece of ground to replant in.

Capt._Caveman

You should check with your local authority to see if there is a preservation order on the tree. You could be doing something illegal by chopping it down.

Also, in these days of rising CO2 levels, it is important that we keep as many trees alive as we can.

emmahip

GRRRRRR I hate ash trees!
They are weeds, you will end up with tiny ones sprouting up everywhere and they quickly turn into monsters which you cant remove.
PLUS it is one of the least attractive trees in the garden - I have 4 large ones growing at the bottom of my garden and they have only just started to bother putting out any leaves.
KILL IT while you can and plant something nice to look at. (I think there are new rules now about felling trees in the nesting season - April to September - so check first)

susieb

I hate ash trees as well, my neighbour has 4 they are about 40-50ft tall, drop seeds everywhere which germinate happily even in the lawn. They are ugly, bits break off in the slightest wind. They are only good as firewood.

Mojisola

Capt._Caveman wrote: »

You should check with your local authority to see if there is a preservation order on the tree. You could be doing something illegal by chopping it down.

Also, in these days of rising CO2 levels, it is important that we keep as many trees alive as we can.

It's unlikely that it's got a TPO as the neighbour was able to cut it down in recent years.

It is important to preserve trees but not at all costs. There is nothing to stop the OP planting a suitable tree in the same place but small town gardens are not the place for forest trees.

twinklefish

I've emailed the council re a TPO but I doubt it as it's an ex council house and not in a conservation area but you never know!!

I have a tree/fence/landscaping man coming round some time this week to have a look at the tree and give me a price for complete removal of tree (and replacing my rubbish back fence)

He also said that Ash can be a pain and seed all over the place and that even if I prune it every year, it will be a lot of maintenance to keep it managable especially if I want to do anything else at the end of the garden i.e. plonk a shed there. It's always dropping branches and has yet to burst this year! Last year it dropped all it's leaves at once in a puff of wind in October so it spends most of it's time bare anyway!

My thoughts today is remove the tree completely and site shed where tree was. Sounds simple!

I don't really think my garden is suitable for any kind of tree. I will make a donation to something like the Woodland Trust who can plant some trees somewhere more sensible!

meanmarie

I am heartbroken that I have to remove 3 large old sycamores as they are rotting from the centre...will use them as firewood once they have been cut down, so not a complete loss...have some ash at the back of the garden and plan on cutting them back so that they will resprout and provide more firewood in a few years....couldn't imagine not having trees but then I am out in the country half a mile from neighbours on same side of road.

Marie