Ash tree very close to house

M0ney

Hi guys,

As the thread states, I've got a small ash tree about a foot from my house. It's only around 3m tall and the trunk is barely even an inch in diameter so it will be very easy to remove....my questions are; do I need to remove it? I.e. will it cause damage to my house over time? And will I be able to replant it? It's roots are likely to be under at least one slab and the bit where it is is not soil as such, more like chuckies and a hydrangea right beside it so the roots will likely be entangled and some will likely need to be cut free, would it survive that for replanting?

Browntoa

I'd remove it ( assuming it's small and not subject to a tree preservation order )

One of the 4 worst trees for causing subsidence.

https://www.assetsure.com/homes/home-insurance/what-are-the-four-worst-trees-for-causing-subsidence/

Davesnave

It won't survive digging up and re-planting, but as it has no monetary value and little appeal as a garden tree, that's unimportant.

It's short term survival is pretty much irrelevant anyway, because most ash trees are going to die through the spread of ash die-back disease, though this has not been as rapid as first envisaged.

In short, it's not a good thing to have any tree with the potential to grow to >30' just a foot from your house, and especially not one that would be capable of producing hundreds of seedlings annually if it ever got to maturity.

Go find your mattock!

M0ney

Thanks very much for your responses.

It's definitely not going to be subject to any preservation order, it's at most 2 years old.

I hadn't realised ash dieback was so serious, are there no ash tree which have resistance to it?

Farway

M0ney wrote: »

I hadn't realised ash dieback was so serious, are there no ash tree which have resistance to it?

That is work in progress, RHS & others are finding some in the wild that seem resistant, one left standing in a wood for instance when rest have died.
Breeding work & investigation centres around these specimens

Davesnave

I have a few ash, none yet affected by chalara, but the disease is pretty close to us now.



Annoying, as it's a good firewood tree and nice to lay for hedging, so if resistant cultivars can be produced, it'll make a come-back..

Primrose

I certainly wouldn,t have any tree that close to the house. It,s always asking for trouble with the roots causing problems to your building.
Unless you have any sentimental reason for wanting to relocate it well away from any building I'd dig it out.
If you really want to relocate it now is not a good time. I'd wait until late autumn when its lost all its leaves and has gone into dormant mode.

Camomile

You might struggle to relocate it but if you have to cut it(and I would) would you consider planting some trees elsewhere?
We had to cut a tree that grew out of hand on the boundary with our neighbour. The root system managed to get close to the house and cause some damage to drainage.