Sweet chestnut staining?

Lily1

My neighbour says our tree is staining his patio, he has already cut several branches from it. I know this is his right, but now he is going to cut more off it, sensitively he says. I cannot see how any more pruning will help the situation as surely the wind decides what blows over his fence. The offending leaves are falling into his pub grounds. I suppose I am just asking if this tree is known for staining slabs or is it just a case of it being a bother for him to clean up the leaves.

splodger_seedswapper

i know a thing or two about sweet chestnut trees - as my dad has a woodland full of them - the leaves won't stain slabs any more or less than any other leaf - they shouldn't be dropping leaves at this time of year though - although they have just dropped (still dropping) their catkins / flowers

hard pruning won't hurt a sweet chestnut - as they are grown specifically for coppicing

Lily1

Thanks for that, it is only the catkins that are falling at the moment. I am just a bit concerned that the tree will look very one sided. Will have to put up with it, may just cut it done if it looks strange.

splodger_seedswapper

you can cut off as many lower branches as you like really - the tree won't mind - if it was in a woodland environment, it would eventually lose the lower branches anyway - as they die back as the canopy increases

you don't want to look at a lopsided tree everyday - it will drive you mad - any chance of posting a pic (so we can see how big / lop sided it is)?

don't want to alarm you but it needs saying - if it is a very large tree (they can grow over 80ft high) - being too lopsided could be detrimental - as they are shallow rooted trees and too much weight on one side might cause it to uproot - and you really don't want that

Lily1

The tree has not been cut again yet. My neighbour will have to get the gardener back to do it. The tree is about 30 ft high and youngish in tree terms we think. We have lived here 8 years, it was previously a farm. Will wait to see how it turns out. Thanks once again for your expertise.

splodger_seedswapper

as an after thought - the pollen on the catkins is very strong and produces a fine powder when falling on mass - so i guess that is what next doors is complaining about - does he complain about all the nuts that fall down too ?