Need advice on a Tree

Silvertabby

We have a lovely Victoria plum on 'pixy' dwarf rootstock.  A good trim once the fruits have finished keeps it at not much more than 8 ft.

Neighbours are happy to pick the plums from the very small overhang.

sj15

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

Is that a Leyland Cypress?  I'd remove it and put a nice little fruit tree in, having consulted your neighbour. 

Was this in jest? Any reason why I'd need to consult the neighbour if removing the tree?

Well, I like to stay on good terms with my neighbours, so discussing changes seems a good idea to me. 

I assumed that you would want to rip  that tree out and put a more suitable tree there. If so, it will eventually grow and spread a bit into your neighbour's garden. So, it might be best to consult.  For example, my neighbour has a plum tree that overhangs our garden, and we very much enjoy the plums. 

You are, of course, free to do what you like, but you did ask for advice.

Oh I think I misunderstood sorry.

I'm not looking to replace it with anything if it gets taken out. Can't be dealing with the hassle to be honest when it grows again. 

I'm not sure that what you have there is a Leylandii, but it may well be something similar. They are a menace. They grow like crazy (easily 50 feet, if left unchecked), and they cause no end of neighbour disputes.

A small fruit tree is not at all the same. 

Thanks for the advice, will have to think about bringing a tree surgeon in to see if it can be removed/replaced. Not really an expense I want right now but could be the best option

Was your neighbour offering to pay for any of this? 

It's not that big a tree. You could DIY it with a hand saw.

The neighbour was not being forthcoming about paying for it.

She wants to build a shed and grow some fruit and implied the tree was a problem.

I know that I am within my rights to do nothing, but she's an old lady who lives alone and is nice so I feel like I should do something. Trimming it or removing it.

But at the same time it's not a priority for me right now.

To be fair it's not a big tree but cutting it down and disposing of it would take time at some cost.

Hmm.   

She is entitled to cut back anything that overhangs her side.  You're not within your rights to grow a tree over her side of the fence.  

There is also a high hedge act and anything over 2 metres can be complained about so I'm not sure that you are entirely 'within your rights' to grow antisocial trees.  

Those trees are a menace.  There is one on the boundary line at the front of our drive and it is absolutely giant.  Thankfully it's not near anyone's house so as to be a real problem to anyone and it does block the view of a main road and several house, so it is left, but the cost of trying to cut it down would be huge now.  

I've always hated it but it was on the neighbours side.  Now a developer has built houses it looks like it belongs to us, but they built the fence wonky.  

No issues with her cutting back any overhangs. But she wanted to cut off some of the thick multi-stem thingies on my side of the fence rather than just cut the branches. She seems to want a (drastic) reduction in the chances of future overhang. 

This tree was here when we got the property, I haven't put it in myself or done anything to grow it and certainly have no intentions to be anti-social. And I have no hedges over two metres I think. 

Just trying to figure out the best way forward and right now I'm (maybe) happy to pay for a trimming of the tree but I don't know if this tree will grow in to a monster - in which case I could look to remove it now.

It will grow into a monster.  It falls under the high hedge act, it doesn't matter that it is a tree. 

Here's 'ours'.   That's my roof in the background! 6ft site fencing for scale.  

That certainly is a beast, I would get rid of mine long before it became that size, if it did!

See Theoretica's comment about the high hedge act

I am learning a lot today

Doozergirl

sj15 said:

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

Is that a Leyland Cypress?  I'd remove it and put a nice little fruit tree in, having consulted your neighbour. 

Was this in jest? Any reason why I'd need to consult the neighbour if removing the tree?

Well, I like to stay on good terms with my neighbours, so discussing changes seems a good idea to me. 

I assumed that you would want to rip  that tree out and put a more suitable tree there. If so, it will eventually grow and spread a bit into your neighbour's garden. So, it might be best to consult.  For example, my neighbour has a plum tree that overhangs our garden, and we very much enjoy the plums. 

You are, of course, free to do what you like, but you did ask for advice.

Oh I think I misunderstood sorry.

I'm not looking to replace it with anything if it gets taken out. Can't be dealing with the hassle to be honest when it grows again. 

I'm not sure that what you have there is a Leylandii, but it may well be something similar. They are a menace. They grow like crazy (easily 50 feet, if left unchecked), and they cause no end of neighbour disputes.

A small fruit tree is not at all the same. 

Thanks for the advice, will have to think about bringing a tree surgeon in to see if it can be removed/replaced. Not really an expense I want right now but could be the best option

Was your neighbour offering to pay for any of this? 

It's not that big a tree. You could DIY it with a hand saw.

The neighbour was not being forthcoming about paying for it.

She wants to build a shed and grow some fruit and implied the tree was a problem.

I know that I am within my rights to do nothing, but she's an old lady who lives alone and is nice so I feel like I should do something. Trimming it or removing it.

But at the same time it's not a priority for me right now.

To be fair it's not a big tree but cutting it down and disposing of it would take time at some cost.

Hmm.   

She is entitled to cut back anything that overhangs her side.  You're not within your rights to grow a tree over her side of the fence.  

There is also a high hedge act and anything over 2 metres can be complained about so I'm not sure that you are entirely 'within your rights' to grow antisocial trees.  

Those trees are a menace.  There is one on the boundary line at the front of our drive and it is absolutely giant.  Thankfully it's not near anyone's house so as to be a real problem to anyone and it does block the view of a main road and several house, so it is left, but the cost of trying to cut it down would be huge now.  

I've always hated it but it was on the neighbours side.  Now a developer has built houses it looks like it belongs to us, but they built the fence wonky.  

No issues with her cutting back any overhangs. But she wanted to cut off some of the thick multi-stem thingies on my side of the fence rather than just cut the branches. She seems to want a (drastic) reduction in the chances of future overhang. 

This tree was here when we got the property, I haven't put it in myself or done anything to grow it and certainly have no intentions to be anti-social. And I have no hedges over two metres I think. 

Just trying to figure out the best way forward and right now I'm (maybe) happy to pay for a trimming of the tree but I don't know if this tree will grow in to a monster - in which case I could look to remove it now.

It will grow into a monster.  It falls under the high hedge act, it doesn't matter that it is a tree. 

Here's 'ours'.   That's my roof in the background! 6ft site fencing for scale.  

That certainly is a beast, I would get rid of mine long before it became that size, if it did!

See Theoretica's comment about the high hedge act

I am learning a lot today

I stand corrected.  

She still doesn't have to tolerate branches on her side. 

sj15

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

Doozergirl said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

sj15 said:

GDB2222 said:

Is that a Leyland Cypress?  I'd remove it and put a nice little fruit tree in, having consulted your neighbour. 

Was this in jest? Any reason why I'd need to consult the neighbour if removing the tree?

Well, I like to stay on good terms with my neighbours, so discussing changes seems a good idea to me. 

I assumed that you would want to rip  that tree out and put a more suitable tree there. If so, it will eventually grow and spread a bit into your neighbour's garden. So, it might be best to consult.  For example, my neighbour has a plum tree that overhangs our garden, and we very much enjoy the plums. 

You are, of course, free to do what you like, but you did ask for advice.

Oh I think I misunderstood sorry.

I'm not looking to replace it with anything if it gets taken out. Can't be dealing with the hassle to be honest when it grows again. 

I'm not sure that what you have there is a Leylandii, but it may well be something similar. They are a menace. They grow like crazy (easily 50 feet, if left unchecked), and they cause no end of neighbour disputes.

A small fruit tree is not at all the same. 

Thanks for the advice, will have to think about bringing a tree surgeon in to see if it can be removed/replaced. Not really an expense I want right now but could be the best option

Was your neighbour offering to pay for any of this? 

It's not that big a tree. You could DIY it with a hand saw.

The neighbour was not being forthcoming about paying for it.

She wants to build a shed and grow some fruit and implied the tree was a problem.

I know that I am within my rights to do nothing, but she's an old lady who lives alone and is nice so I feel like I should do something. Trimming it or removing it.

But at the same time it's not a priority for me right now.

To be fair it's not a big tree but cutting it down and disposing of it would take time at some cost.

Hmm.   

She is entitled to cut back anything that overhangs her side.  You're not within your rights to grow a tree over her side of the fence.  

There is also a high hedge act and anything over 2 metres can be complained about so I'm not sure that you are entirely 'within your rights' to grow antisocial trees.  

Those trees are a menace.  There is one on the boundary line at the front of our drive and it is absolutely giant.  Thankfully it's not near anyone's house so as to be a real problem to anyone and it does block the view of a main road and several house, so it is left, but the cost of trying to cut it down would be huge now.  

I've always hated it but it was on the neighbours side.  Now a developer has built houses it looks like it belongs to us, but they built the fence wonky.  

No issues with her cutting back any overhangs. But she wanted to cut off some of the thick multi-stem thingies on my side of the fence rather than just cut the branches. She seems to want a (drastic) reduction in the chances of future overhang. 

This tree was here when we got the property, I haven't put it in myself or done anything to grow it and certainly have no intentions to be anti-social. And I have no hedges over two metres I think. 

Just trying to figure out the best way forward and right now I'm (maybe) happy to pay for a trimming of the tree but I don't know if this tree will grow in to a monster - in which case I could look to remove it now.

It will grow into a monster.  It falls under the high hedge act, it doesn't matter that it is a tree. 

Here's 'ours'.   That's my roof in the background! 6ft site fencing for scale.  

That certainly is a beast, I would get rid of mine long before it became that size, if it did!

See Theoretica's comment about the high hedge act

I am learning a lot today

I stand corrected.  

She still doesn't have to tolerate branches on her side. 

I agree with that just and will advise her to trim any overhang and leave me alone lol

TELLIT01

sj15 said:

Martin_the_Unjust said:

Get it chopped down while it’s still a relatively small job.


as GBD222 said, put a fruit tree in its place.

So this tree will continue to grow and get bigger and bigger? 

Do I need to put anything in it's place or can I just get it taken down and just leave the stump there?

It will definitely continue to grow.  Assuming it is Leylandii, I found this on the internet Leylandii is the fastest growing conifer in the world, gaining up to more than 35 inches per year. When left untrimmed, leylandii can reach heights of more than 100 feet and often grow to be more than 20 feet wide.

The house next door but one to ours has one which must be nearly 50 feet high now.  Their immediate neighbour is nervous every time there are strong winds.  I would remove it while it's still comparatively small and easier to manage.

Section62

sj15 said:

I agree with that just and will advise her to trim any overhang and leave me alone lol

It is in your interests to get it dealt with sooner rather than later - removal of a substantial tree could cost you a few thousands.

But leave it until after the nesting season at least - it is an offence to disturb nesting birds.

Silvertabby

Section62 said:

sj15 said:

I agree with that just and will advise her to trim any overhang and leave me alone lol

It is in your interests to get it dealt with sooner rather than later - removal of a substantial tree could cost you a few thousands.

But leave it until after the nesting season at least - it is an offence to disturb nesting birds.

It's an ugly beast now and will grow into an even bigger uglier beast very shortly.  Best to get rid as soon as the nesting birds have gone.

GDB2222

It’s just like Chinese Whispers round here. Nobody has said that there are any birds nesting  in the tree.  Nobody is quite sure that this a Leyland Cypress.

Eldi_Dos

GDB2222 said:

It’s just like Chinese Whispers round here. Nobody has said that there are any birds nesting  in the tree.  Nobody is quite sure that this a Leyland Cypress.

I think it is a given that there will be nest's in that tree at this time of the year, for all the bad press they get that type of tree provides good shelter for birds to rear their young. One of the telltale signs in the coming weeks will be eggshells around the base that parent birds have discarded when doing nest cleaning.

Silvertabby

GDB2222 said:

It’s just like Chinese Whispers round here. Nobody has said that there are any birds nesting  in the tree.  Nobody is quite sure that this a Leyland Cypress.

Even if it's not a Leylandii, it's still an ugly beast!  All conifers don't like being cut back, so trimming the overhanging branches will just leave a mess of brown, dead looking, branches which are very unlikely to green up again.