Selling a tree?

pauper79

Hello. We have a very nice Acer in our back garden, which goes red every autumn. Sadly it needs to come out as we are very limited in space and need room for the kids to play. It seems a shame just to cut it down, and it would cost £1000+ to buy a similar example from a tree stockist. It's about 15 feet high, give or take. Are there any companies that would buy it in situ and come and take it away? Or is that just wishful thinking, and I need to fire up the chainsaw? Grateful for any advice.

Flugelhorn

Suspect the costs of digging it up and then the risk it might not survive would put most companies off - shame as it is a lovely tree

ArbitraryRandom

I don't know if it's accurate or not, but the general rule of thumb I've heard is that the roots underground can be the same size (spread and depth) as the canopy - so unlike a container grown example, getting the roots out could involve digging up the best part of a ton of earth. 

You could maybe try offering it on market place (buyer collects) but I doubt anyone would give you anywhere near £1000 if they had to come and do the digging. 

Once you cut it down though, someone might well buy the wood. 

nursemolly

Can you just trim it right down and keep it cut back until the kids have got older....looks a beautiful tree..just a thought 

J63320

How much space do you need? If it’s just the headroom under the tree that’s an issue, you could try lifting the crown i.e. removing some of the lower branches. I would leave the two main trunks, but take off the substantial low branch on the right hand side and anything else at that level - it’s not easy to see from the picture, but you need to try and retain the symmetry. Try a Google search on “lifting crown of tree” (without the quotes) for ideas, and look at the RHS website to find the best time to prune.

Your children will only need play space for a few years, but that is a beautiful tree that could be giving you pleasure long after they have grown up and left home.

twopenny

Oh the irony!  I'm trying to plant trees for shade for me and my grandchildren because of the strength of the sun in the garden. Means we don't have to pfaff with sunscreen every time they go out.
Beautiful tree.
It's roots will extend across the garden so digging up would destroy a lot of your garden with machines  and it couldn't be transplanted. 
Commercial trees have the roots confined so they can be lifted and transplanted.

Is there a chance you could make it a shaded area for the children to sit and play with their friends? Picnics?

Flugelhorn

You are after more space with the children but suspect most parents will tell you that kids outgrow any garden very quickly and either they just sit around or need a much much bigger space to play games in 

stuhse

Much as suggested by others, how about you give it a damn good trim and see how much space / extra light that creates- you may find thats fine. Try it for a month. You can still move on to taking it down altogether if it doesn't work for you.

pauper79

Thanks all, am taking some advice from a local helpful tree merchant, so we shall see!

sheramber

I had a massive oak tree in my garden and in summer all the kids gathered to play there as it gave them shade.

Beebabe69

pauper79 said:

Thanks all, am taking some advice from a local helpful tree merchant, so we shall see!

I’m intrigued to know what they say as I have the same issue but my tree is in a very large pot