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Section62

dimbo61 said:

Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

NOT before checking:

A ) They have a right to cut them down.

B ) That there is no protection in place (e.g. TPO)

C ) Getting advice on what risk the trees pose to the building and the best way of removing them (if it is necessary).


In relation to C, serious structural damage can be caused by hastily removing a tree.  In some cases the crown needs to be reduced over a period of several years to allow the ground and foundations of nearby buildings to gradually adjust. Sudden reductions in the rate of soil moisture extraction can be very damaging.

I agree with Poster_586329. Total removal should be a last resort. Professional advice is needed on what damage (if any) is being caused and then a management plan developed.

That could be a bit of light pruning, or some crown reduction. And ideally all discussed/agreed with the neighbours before starting work.


(Edit: Also agree with thegreenone who posted while I was typing)

davidmcn

AskAsk said:

dimbo61 said:

How long has Dad lived in the property?
Who planted trees close to the property.
Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

he has been there for many years and the trees have been there many years also.  i do not know where they come from but he didn't plant them.  i don't think they were there when he moved in so i wonder if trees can grow by themselves like weeds?

Yes, they can. If he doesn't like the fact they're there, he should be having stern words with whoever was responsible for the weeding all those years... 

Norman_Castle

AskAsk said:

dimbo61 said:

How long has Dad lived in the property?
Who planted trees close to the property.
Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

he has been there for many years and the trees have been there many years also.  i do not know where they come from but he didn't plant them.  i don't think they were there when he moved in so i wonder if trees can grow by themselves like weeds?

They're self seeded, that's how trees grow in the wild. In managed gardens they are weeds. If they've grown while he's lived there he could have pulled them out of the ground easily when they were saplings. Do you know what trees they are, sycamores self seed and grow rapidly. I'd suggest he checks the garden annually for more unwanted saplings.
Have the HA visited the property to look at the trees? If they are large and potentially damaging they may remove them to protect their asset. Can you email photographs to the HA for a surveyor to assess?

deannagone

I'm a bit amazed.  Trees are, of course, living growing things, and will grow (like trees, not like weeds). Growth habit varies according to the species.  It sounds like its been years/decades since its been pruned.  Growth would have been seen long before this. It could have been done a lot easier years ago.  But hind sight is 20/20.  I'd suggest a thorough prune after checking there's no tree preservation order and checking online what you can get away with without killing the tree. 

Removing it might be a bit of a big operation (with risks if they don't know what they are doing) although some people will do it for free if they can take the wood.  They often aren't professionals though so not always the best way to deal with the situation. 

Norman_Castle

AskAsk said:

Norman_Castle said:

AskAsk said:

dimbo61 said:

How long has Dad lived in the property?
Who planted trees close to the property.
Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

he has been there for many years and the trees have been there many years also.  i do not know where they come from but he didn't plant them.  i don't think they were there when he moved in so i wonder if trees can grow by themselves like weeds?

They're self seeded, that's how trees grow in the wild. In managed gardens they are weeds. If they've grown while he's lived there he could have pulled them out of the ground easily when they were saplings. Do you know what trees they are, sycamores self seed and grow rapidly. I'd suggest he checks the garden annually for more unwanted saplings.
Have the HA visited the property to look at the trees? If they are large and potentially damaging they may remove them to protect their asset. Can you email photographs to the HA for a surveyor to assess?

they did remove a large sycamore tree (i think, or it could be cedar?) that had lifted the paving around the garden and pushed another huge tree over at the front of the house but left it half lent over on its side!  i don't know what trees they are.

they said that they had sent their tree care team round and their team states it is shrubs and not trees so they have asked me to send in photos, which i will do.  they did however say that tenants are responsible for pruning the trees and shrubs in the gardens and they would only deal with the problem if the trees were considered a health hazzard, which they do not consider to be the case.

i was surprised to hear that landlords are not responsible for the trees in their property and that tenants are responsible for them as part of the general gardening maintenance.

I'd expect landlords to take responsibility for trees that are large and established when the tenancy starts or when they are problematic which as you have stated they have done. Landlords take responsibility for communal gardening in shared properties but charge annually through the service charge for this. Even when paying for garden maintenance the tenants often cannot dictate what work is done so unwelcome trees are left.

If its an overgrown bush or shrub at this property they are easier to reduce as you're not dealing with excess heights or heavy branches. Loppers and a small bowsaw can be cheap to buy and can quickly reduce or remove plants.

Chandler85

I think the problem here, is the tree seems to have grown from nothing to now being a nuisance all during the time that the occupier was in the property.  It takes a while for that to happen, so there was ample opportunity to deal with the problem before it was a problem, and presumably more feasible due to it being smaller.

If it was an existing huge tree that needed pruning and it was shortly after the tenant moved in, then I think the landlord should really be doing it.

Indigo_and_Violet

It looks like you have your answer - your father is responsible for the trees/shrubs. 

Going forward, I'd look at getting a professional tress surgeon in to offer advice and make a plan of action for the short/medium term. 

Then, in the longer term, you need to help your Dad find a way to cope with his garden. This could be paying for a regular visit by a gardener or you could look at finding a volunteer. A cheap source of gardener might be an advert near your local allotment or to your local gardening club. For volunteers a few of my friends volunteer with GoodGym and do some gardening for their older 'coaches'. There are also some 'community gardening' clubs in my local park. I'm in London where a lot of people don't have access to a garden so would be delighted to be able to go and do some tidying up at someone else's place, but it'll take a bit of time to find someone willing you both trust.

AnotherJoe

AskAsk said:

dimbo61 said:

How long has Dad lived in the property?
Who planted trees close to the property.
Someone needs to cut them down and remove the stumps before they cause serious structural damage 

he has been there for many years and the trees have been there many years also.  i do not know where they come from but he didn't plant them.  i don't think they were there when he moved in so i wonder if trees can grow by themselves like weeds?

Of course not, why do you think the natives in the Amazon are so busy, they are out there planting trees 24 x 7.

And Robin and his Merry Men hardly had time to steal for the poor what with keeping Sherwood Forest going.

letsbetfair

Shrubs like buddleia can self-seed and grow to look tree like surprisingly quickly. Even a couple seedlings I left for a year or so (as I liked the flowers) were quite substantial by the time I pulled them out. Hopefully it is shrubs rather than trees, as they're easier to remove. Trees like sycamores can easily self-seed and then grow quickly, though.

Agree that, longer term, finding a way to keep on top of weeds is a good idea