What to do about this sycamore tree?

Brimble

There is a sycamore tree (so I'm told) growing on the very edge of our neighbours driveway, less than a metre from a wall of our house. I'd never thought about it before, but recently a visiting friend said when leaving 'ooh, I'd ask your neighbours to get rid of that sycamore if I were you', and since then it's concerned me a little. Google has all sorts of horror stories (but then it does about most things). Here is a picture of the tree:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/26092cii8rjh7kl8qfz6d/Tree.jpg?rlkey=apbva1x8d5oibxdk8fin6oofw&st=7fnvob87&dl=0

Is it 'dangerous'? Should I ask the neighbour to have it removed (I'm happy to help, whether that be physical work of financial cost)? Thanks in advance to anyone who can advise.

twopenny

Oh it's tiny! I'd expected something massive

And it's by the garden wall so no problem for quite a while.

You sound like a good and sensitive neighbour which is  a treat after some you see on here.

Do you know why they've left it? I'd use that as a start. Perhaps mention that they grow to 45mtrs.

See what they say.

Then drop in that you are concerned about your house from the roots if it grows and you'd be happy to help

It would take very little to get it chopped yourself or them. I'm old and I could do it. The problem comes in killing it. The newly cut surface needs to be treated with brushwood killer.

If your concerned by pets and wildlife cover the treated stump with a plastic bag tied over.

maman

There's every chance that this has just rooted from the very efficient helicopter seeds of sycamore that have blown from elsewhere. I'd be surprised if your neighbour chose to plant it.

I'd have a word with your neighbour about potential future damage (to the surface of their drive as well as your house) and agree to remove it as suggested. 

Brimble

Thanks, that's all really helpful. And good to know we can cut it ourselves if necessary, I do have a little axe somewhere...

RE: potential damage, I know it's by the wall, but our house wall is less than a metre from there (our house is the one on the right, the neighbour is on the left). Will it cause a problem if we just leave it forever?

I have already mentioned it to them a few months ago, they just said they were aware of it but not got round to thinking about it properly yet. I was thinking I could just ask them again now (they are lovely people by the way, so no concerns in that respect), but then they might ask me what I suggest / prefer, and I've no idea! I don't know whether removing it could cause more problems than leaving it (as I understand removal can cause excess moisture in the ground as the tree no longer takes it), also if it will one day become a problem if left, I don't know if that means in 5 years or 50 years! Can anyone advise on those elements?

Green_hopeful

I would explain your concerns and offer to cut it down if they don’t want to do it themselves. Certainly easier when it’s quite small. I would use a saw rather than an axe. I would cut it as low as possible. Something like this. https://www.screwfix.com/p/spear-jackson-razorsharp-3tpi-wood-bow-saw-24-610mm-/609JR?tc=GC7&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD8IdPwkvwD7yL-BH0z2szjxOogPn&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v6-BhDuARIsALprm31AovQyBJXhI6SZ7L-AZEMENsOgaaZ8oNqe0q4Qp6AmD4YEmLsd6-saAnWUEALw_wcB Then you need to kill the roots as suggested above. It’s still quite small so I likely to be having much impact now but it will do. It might make a difference to your home insurance so you could use that as a reason for getting rid of it. 

Brimble

Ok thanks. I was hoping someone would say that it is unlikely to do any harm and can be left, but if that's likely to cause a problem x years down the line, then probably better to do it now I suppose. Thanks.

Farway

All the above, try & remove it while it's still young. 

As for killing the stump, you can buy stump killer plugs, but expensive. Far easier & cheaper to do as suggested & use brushwood killer, just drill some holes & pour it in.

Eventually, if tree not killed, the roots will cause problems, maybe not to you, but someone in the house

Where I volunteer, there were two huge old oaks, which were causing problems to nearby bungalows.

These had to removed, it cost thousands due to size, luckily insurance covered it.

You can see a ring of tree stump killer inserts around the edges of the stumps

Sarahspangles

I’d take it out now because it’s still small enough that it’s a hand tool job. And you won’t need to dig out the root and disturb the wall or drive, it’s small enough that you could use a brush killer product.

Brie

Large trees like a sycamore (someone said 45 meters high?) will have a very large root system as well.  Think of what you see above ground and envision that underground as well.  So well under your house when fully grown.

Also look where the centre of the tiddly trunk is now.  That will likely remain the centre of the trunk when it's 3 foot wide.  So there goes your fence/wall.    

FreeBear

Brimble said:

Ok thanks. I was hoping someone would say that it is unlikely to do any harm and can be left, but if that's likely to cause a problem x years down the line, then probably better to do it now I suppose. Thanks.

Within five years, it will be pushing against the wall and cause it to bulge. In ten years, it may well have pushed the wall over. It needs to go as soon as practical.

I'd get a reciprocating saw with a carbide tipped blade. Dig out soil around the base of the tree and cut through the main roots. A bit of grunt work, and you should be able to pull the whole thing out.

Eldi_Dos

@Farway
The felling of those two Oaks should have been pretty much self financing,the timber from them would be quite valuable.

@Brimble
It would be to everyones benefit to get the young tree removed sooner rather than later.If there is any regrowth from the stump it is just a matter of removing buds and leaves as they appear,if done so the roots will die out within a couple of seasons.