Monkey Puzzle Tree - taking it down..?

Nine_Lives

LoL. The pallets will soon be gone as they're for the wood burner. They just need chopping up.

The shed may come down too. I know it was in my dads plans before he died, as he wanted me to help re-do it properly. As for the rest of the clutter, that's going to have to go.

We did have another conifer about 8 foot from the house which was slightly smaller than the one in the photo. That had to come down as that would've certainly hit the house if it'd fallen.

Would it be a tree surgeon we'd need to see to get this conifer sorted then or what? I could lob it myself, but it'll just crash down [anywhere] and wipe out the fence or shed i'd bet. I don't fancy getting up to the top & lobbing it down in segments as i am petrified of heights.

ed110220

I'd leave it unless you really don't like it for some reason. It's highly unlikely to blow down - they are very sturdy trees. As they get older and taller they tend to lose the lower branches so taking up less room.

There's a very tall one near me in a tiny front garden, it's probably been there since around the time the house was built (the]y are pretty slow growing). You can see it in Google Street View: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bath&hl=en&ll=51.373475,-2.365419&spn=0.002756,0.004823&sll=51.489079,-2.610626&sspn=0.703742,1.757813&vpsrc=6&hnear=Bath,+Bath+and+North+East+Somerset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.373399,-2.366439&panoid=Qx9q6YDlW-NPAFH7Io8LRQ&cbp=12,30.34,,0,1.16

Davesnave

ed110220 wrote: »

There's a very tall one near me in a tiny front garden, it's probably been there since around the time the house was built (the]y are pretty slow growing). You can see it in Google Street View: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bath&hl=en&ll=51.373475,-2.365419&spn=0.002756,0.004823&sll=51.489079,-2.610626&sspn=0.703742,1.757813&vpsrc=6&hnear=Bath,+Bath+and+North+East+Somerset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.373399,-2.366439&panoid=Qx9q6YDlW-NPAFH7Io8LRQ&cbp=12,30.34,,0,1.16

I virtually grew up with that tree and must've passed it thousands of times, but now I look at it properly, it's ridiculous!

Being where it is, it's almost certain to have a preservation order. However, I think you've made quite a good case for its removal & replacement with something more appropriate.

Davesnave

To the OP, that monkey puzzle doesn't seem to be threatening anything, so if you have adequate insurance, stop worrying about it.

The conifer is just plain & ugly. No one experienced and insured is likely to cut it down for the value of the wood, so expect to pay half a day's wages for the joy of having it cut down, or advertise it as 'standing timber' on Gumtree and pray that you get someone who's sensible!

It isn't a huge tree, and given just a hand saw and a rope, it could be taken down in stages. What you don't want is some inexperienced wally trying to chain saw it whilst standing on a ladder. The pros have one-handed saws and the knowledge of how to use them.

Nine_Lives

Davesnave wrote: »

expect to pay half a day's wages for the joy of having it cut down,

Who's wages? Mine? Yours? Wayne Rooneys?

Either way, i was looking at how it could be chopped down today without bringing anyone in. Sure enough you can get the low branches, but that's one tall tree to be tackling. Bigger than 20ft any rate.
So i'd guess you'd need to tackle it from the top & work down. Not something for me that's for sure.
If you chop it at a safe/accessible height, then it's going to fall, unless you rope it & pull it in some direction.
The only real "safe" direction to pull it would be to the left of the photo - which would destroy the fence totally. It would fall on a private car park & then need chopping up on there ready for the burner. Problem remains - it would wipe out the fence totally (& obstruct a private car park for a while).

DKLS

If it was my garden I would get rid of the conifer, and keep the monkey puzzle, its a great example and adds much needed height to the garden, if anything I would possibly raise the canopy by taking off the lower branches if you need a bit more space/light but would check on appropriate time of year to do that in case it causes further damage or disease.

I would be cautious of advertising on gumtree for standing timber, a mate tried this and two likley lads turned up armed with chainsaws and a crate of special brew. They did a good job on the tree but was apparently very hard to watch as their lack of respect for health and safety and the side effects of special brew was inviting a visit to casualty.

Nine_Lives

DKLS wrote: »

adds much needed height

I'm not trying to be clever when i ask this, but why is it much needed?

We also wouldn't be advertising any wood to be taken away. We have a wood fire ourselves, so would use it for ourselves.

Davesnave

K_P83 wrote: »

Who's wages? Mine? Yours? Wayne Rooneys?
So i'd guess you'd need to tackle it from the top & work down. Not something for me that's for sure.).

I don't think Wayne's up for it, and although I help/employ a pro tree person, I'm not qualified to do any of this stuff on other people's land. Yes, trees like this are tackled on a calm day from the top down.
It's straightforward job for someone with the kit & experience, which is why I mentioned a proper tree surgeon. Getting quotes is free.

DKLS wrote: »

I would be cautious of advertising on gumtree for standing timber, a mate tried this and two likley lads turned up armed with chainsaws and a crate of special brew. They did a good job on the tree but was apparently very hard to watch as their lack of respect for health and safety and the side effects of special brew was inviting a visit to casualty.

Thank you for graphically illustrating my point about the inherent dangers of this option! :rotfl:

Realistically, there are 4 possibilities:
1. DIY
2. Advertise free standing timber
3..Tree surgeon
4. Ignore

You've ruled out 1 and 2, so you're left with 3 & 4.

Nine_Lives

True.

The fence needs sorting anyway, but that's a job for summer. Too many dogs/cats from people who can't control their animals (tiz really dogs that comment is aimed at) entering our garden through the current fence.

People also can't help but have a nosey in, so we're wanting something to stop this too, but the danger will be having it too high & looking like a prison.

ed110220

Davesnave wrote: »

To the OP, that monkey puzzle doesn't seem to be threatening anything, so if you have adequate insurance, stop worrying about it.

People worry far too much about trees. If we cut down every tree that could conceivably fall on something/someone, we'd be living in a wasteland. Trees don't just fall down unless they are old/rotten/seriously defective.