Overhanging Sycamore

kerri_gt

We have a neighbours garden that backs onto the side of ours and they have a large sycamore than overhangs our garden considerably.

I'd love to have it trimmed back (think it's actually killing the fir trees next to it in their garden by the look of them) but does anyone have any ball park figures of what it would be likely to cost? I would have to approach the owners anyway as I assume the tree surgeon would need to access the trunk to get to the branches? Wish they'd just have the thing cut down....

skipton

Just get a few quotes from different tree surgeons, most will give a free quotation. Speak to your neighbour first.

We had a large broken branch that had wedged itself on its way down, removed from one of our very old (400 yrs) protected Oak trees. It cost £350 but it did take 3 them all morning to get it down, tidy the other branches it had fallen on, chop it up and shred the small leafy bits.They also took a few over hanging branches from some of the younger oaks.

grannyjo

When you ask tree surgeons- ask them how many people and how much time it will take. Very important check if it is to take the wood away or not. That can double the figure as they have to pay to put it in the landfill etc. Its much cheaper if they leave it in the garden, and you advertise it on freecycle as people with woodburning stoves will be delighted to cut it up and take it away. - Or the tree surgeon can cut it up and you can take it to the tip. Householders don't pay usually for that.
As a ball park it cost us £400 to trim back 3 trees and for them to take the wood away- last autumn. It would have been £200 if he'd left the wood in the garden. He trimmed the trees sensitively keeping a good shape and it took 2 of them about half a day. The same man chopped through the trunks of 3 tree in our neighbours garden ( 4 cuts) - for £40. If there are fences to be protected- or favourits plants it costs mor as they have to tie the falling log to ropes- cut it, and then lower it. It all seems horribly expensivr to me. I've just had a quote of £60 for one large branch -leaving wood in the garden- but chopped up

Leif

Use the wood in a stove, or leave it at the side of your garden to rot, and encourage fungi and insects such as beetles. And the resulting humus will be good for the soil.

kerri_gt

Thanks for the feedback everyone - I'm quite happy for them to leave the wood to reduce costs - haven't really got anywhere out of the way it could be left to rot, but I'm sure any bigger bits will go on freecycle and thankfully the local tip is an easy drive from me and any remaining bits.

Best get on to some quotes and then talk to the neighbours.

sobie

Be very carefull it might have a preservation order (TPO), as sycamores are a protected species. Meaning you wont be able to remove it. Check with your local council before removing it could cost you £20,000.00 if you remove any branches whatsoever and it has a TPO.

grannyjo

Are you sure about tree preservation orders on sycamores. A tree surgeon I talked to said they were like weeds and did not have preservation orders on them . However areas can have tree preservation orders on them. New estates often have them- or heritage areas. Either way its worth checking. Your neighbours should know- if not telephone the council. Even if it does have a tree preservation area ( as we had on ours) the council gave permission for 2 sycamores to be cut down and 4 others to be carefully cut back, keeping the tree shape. We didn't get charged for that 'planning ' permission- but things can be different in different areas. Don't give the council too much information- be vague about where it is- as regards housenumbers. Several people around us have severely lopped their trees (against the tree preservation order) and nothing has happened , but its still a big chance to take

sobie

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4284874/Couple-taken-to-court-for-pruning-dangerous-trees.html
thats the first article I came across when googled.

and :

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/rooms/outdoors/garden-planning-ideas/trees-rules-on-cutting-removing-garden-trees-10-07-12

grannyjo

thanks for pointing us into the pitfalls with the references. What they say is that all trees -not just sycamores-can have preservation orders on them. Not all sycamores do; just some in tree preservation or conservation areas. It reinforces it is worth finding out if your gardens fall into a preservation/ conservation area. If it doesn't you can hack away with the owners consent- or even without it as far as it overhangs your property and you must return the branches to the neighbour. It is better to obtain their agreement in a good neighbourly fashion.

kerri_gt

Well, didn't get around to looking into this further last year due to one thing and another, but got home today and found tree has had a massive 'trim' :j it's still standing (very much so) but it's been cut back loads and shaped, so it's not overhanging our garden at all now.

Looking forward to a (hopefully) sunny summer, and less leaves in the garden this autumn.

Suspect either the owners finally realised how big it was, or were concerned about how it may fare with any more high winds. Either way, it's made my day

hathor

What do you do if there's a TPO on a tree that is pushing over the garden boundary wall? We've just got the surveyor's report on the house we want to buy and it refers to just that at the bottom of the garden. I haven't been out in the garden myself yet, as there wasn't access when I viewed, but the problem will have to be addressed.
Presumably the searches will show up any TPOs, or am I expecting too much? How do you find out?