Help identifying tree

Mexas

Hello all, Can anyone identify this tree that growing in my garden? I've just moved in to a new house and considering lopping it down at its quite big and im obviously worried about future issues with roots and foundations etc.

Thanks.

Rain_Shadow

Mexas wrote: »

Dendrix Horizontalis?

spadoosh

Looks like a western red cedar.

If the tree could fall over and not hit anything you wont get many issues with roots. Coniferous roots tend to be more down than spread.

Mexas

Ha very good. I took it like that so i could imagine what it looked like once it had been felled!

Mexas

spadoosh wrote: »

Looks like a western red cedar.

If the tree could fall over and not hit anything you wont get many issues with roots. Coniferous roots tend to be more down than spread.

Great thanks, how high do they typically grow? Its approx the height of my house and roughly the same distance away.

Nile

Hi, we move threads if we think they’ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.

I’ve moved your thread from the ‘In my home’ board to the ‘Greenfingered’ board, where it is better suited.

Regards

Nile

spadoosh

Mexas wrote: »

Great thanks, how high do they typically grow? Its approx the height of my house and roughly the same distance away.

They grow over 60 metres about 8 times taller than your average house. Generally dont grow as tall in the UK (about 2/3 as tall) but they can still grow ~2ft per year.

Ive got some about 5ft away from my house if that makes you feel any better. We had them assessed (we wanted to and the mortgage company required it) when we moved in and they said whilst its not ideal there unlikely to do any damage in the near future, they will have to come down eventually though. Might finally get round to it this year. Keep putting it off because its a 'big' job and i dont pay people to do things. Last time i cut down a tree it wouldve been in my kitchen if it hadnt pinged back off the washing line and landed on my face.

Just be wary that theyll be taking up a lot of water which will effect the ground around them when theyre cut down.

Mexas

Magic thanks! Will leave it be for a while then and add it to the to-do list!

Fuzion

If they've not caused any cracking so far, they're unlikely to do so in the near future.

That said, we have had cracks suddenly appear in our flat (from late summer onward) that are said to be due to a nearby large Leylandii. The issue is the tree, plus a shrinkable clay soil, plus unusually dry conditions. The soil becomes bone dry, and shrinks, and this causes the movement.

The tree hasn't been felled yet, but already the cracks are shrinking as the ground heaves back with the wetter conditions of winter time.

Fuzion

Another cause would probably be inadequate foundations to the old ground floor extension, which is where the cracks have appeared! (At the points where it joins the main part of the house).

If your foundations are shallow or on clay soil, the risk is greater than otherwise would be the case.