Damson tree near new extension. Can I keep it?

rosie383

Hi to all you knowledgeable gardeners out there. We moved into our new home in September 2015 and one of the main attractions was the garden. There is a lovely damson tree which is so attractive just now with its new blooms being visited by lots of tits.

However, we are currently having an extension built and the builder is looking at the tree and saying that building control may not like it being so close to the new build. The footings have been dug and are at least 1m deep. The base of the tree is about 3m from the footings and the tree itself is about the height of midway up the first floor (if that makes sense).
I really, really don't want to get rid of the tree as it would take years to get another one to give us as much privacy and joy. I have read that sometimes removal of a tree can cause more problems in the short term but I don't really know enough. Can anyone help please?
I don't want to argue to keep the tree, only to have problems a few years down the line.
Any advice would be most welcome.

antrobus

rosie383 wrote: »

...However, we are currently having an extension built and the builder is looking at the tree and saying that building control may not like it being so close to the new build. The footings have been dug and are at least 1m deep. The base of the tree is about 3m from the footings and the tree itself is about the height of midway up the first floor (if that makes sense)....

This document here from the ABI says that the "safe distance" for a damson tree is 11m.


https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Publications/Public/Migrated/Home/Protecting%20your%20home%20from%20subsidence%20damage.pdf

mrsmazza

I,m not a gardener but our neighbour had a Damson tree which overhanged our garden. When my son was little ,he used to get all the damsons stuck on his shoes and tread them into the kitchen.
My advice is get rid if it's near the house.

glasgowdan

Just ignore it and remove if you're told you have to?

Davesnave

antrobus wrote: »

This document here from the ABI says that the "safe distance" for a damson tree is 11m.


https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Publications/Public/Migrated/Home/Protecting%20your%20home%20from%20subsidence%20damage.pdf

I'm getting a runtime error on this so I can't read it, but I'd observe that damsons come on several root stocks, so a blanket safe distance is probably over-generous for some.

However, OP's tree is certainly not on a very dwarfing rootstock, so it could be expected to grow to around 5m or so.

Modern deeper foundations don't suffer from root incursions as many older ones do, but if there is doubt and distrust, maybe there's a middle way.....

If it were me, I'd retain the tree but maybe restrict it by pruning branches at the correct time, which is June/July, aiming for a more compact crown.

Then, next winter, I'd plant a replacement tree in a 'safe' place choosing the rootstock accordingly.

After about 5 or 6 years, having kept the original tree controlled, I'd take it down. The other tree could then take over providing a crop of these great fruits. This would also give me time to plan more planting for privacy.

Davesnave

mrsmazza wrote: »

My advice is get rid if it's near the house.

....Or train your kids to change into slippers when they come inside. Quite feasible, but I've never succeeded with the cats!

mrsmazza

After about 18 yrs my son is finally house trained ��

rosie383

That is really good advice davesnave. And I couldn't get the link to work either. 11m does seem excessively safe.
I'm not worried about tramping the fruit into the house mrsmazza. The fruit was ripe just after we moved in and we didn't have any problem as we don't wear shoes in the house. My lot are all housetrained too!

Davesnave

In gardening, sometimes a small risk is an acceptable option.

We have an oak tree planted by our predecessors, which appears to be close to our main drain. It has taken about 18 years to become a really strong feature of the garden, so it's staying.

As the drain is plastic, it's a reasonable bet that nothing much will happen in the next decade or so, but even if it does, the cost of replacing/re-routing would be worth it.

We just don't have 18 years to grow another.

And we have an alternative loo!

rosie383

Is it naïve to think that a metre of solid foundation (and looking at the hole, about 3/4 metre thick) would withstand roots?
I just hope that the builder doesn't make a big deal of it with the building inspector. At least my dh knows how much I desperately want to keep the tree so that will help when he has any dealings with them.

Davesnave

rosie383 wrote: »

Is it naïve to think that a metre of solid foundation (and looking at the hole, about 3/4 metre thick) would withstand roots?

Not at all. The builder is likely ignorant of the real level of threat, or covering his $rse, or both.

There's a world of difference between a 1930s build sitting on a 10" foundation of dubious quality, and a modern poured concrete equivalent 1m deep.

Plenty of references out there on the 'net to back this up. An easy one:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=225