eucalyptus tree

[Jagdeep]

Would anybody be able to give advise about a mature eucalyptus tree in my back garden.It is approx 20 to 30 ft high much taller than the house and approx
10-15 metres from the house.Can this pose a risk to the foundation of the house?

I want to remove the tree but am unsure wheather to remove it in stages or remove it in one go.As the soil is clay based I have read that this could cause heave.Can anybody give me further advise?

One final question what would be the approx cost of having it surveyed and removed?

[Kayleigh]

I have no idea about the affect on the foundations but I do know if you chop it to the ground it will grow back..
They are totally inappropriate for uk gardens if not kept in check I would get on to tree surgeons in you area for advice.

[The Woodman]

Hi Jagdeep

My inclination would be to remove it as well. They are vigorous trees and normally very stable, however if it's that much taller the house and that close, heave may occur. Get professional advice from a qualified surveyor. This is a good place to look for one

The Tree Consultancy Directory website - Tree Reports ? Professional Tree Advice - Tree Consultancy

If you need an arborists report for any purpose, a single tree will cost around £200.

To remove it expect to pay IRO £500 - 700 (I don't know the site and circumstances though), but get three quotes as fees do vary. make sure that the person you employ has valid insurance.

Expect the cut stump to coppice if not treated with a suitable chemical, perhaps glyphosate or 2,4,5T. The other more expensive solution is to have the stump ground out.

[Jagdeep]

Thx Woodman,

Really appreciate your helpful advise,that was so useful.

I had another question for you since you are very knowledgeable in this field.
Next to the eucalyptus tree is a mature pear tree which is again roughly same height as the eucalyptus tree.Now if I removed the eucalyptus tree and left the pear tree for now would that not reduce the impact of heave as one tree will still absorb water.The prices you quoted is what I expected but just not within my budget.

Is a tree surgeon really necessary.Reason I say this is because where my parents live there was a huge mature Oak tree and that was removed and garages backed onto it.Within a month or so the owners had built a garage on this very site.My point being Oak trees are also real water hungry trees and posed the same risk.What exactly would a tree surgeon come and assess as that's an awful lot of money.Would my local council be able to help or not?

I'm just thinking can I remove the tree and by-pass the tree surgeon.
Oh one other question do the roots grow downwards or spread out as read loads of different views.

Lots of questions there for you.Hope to hear your response.

[willowjay]

Hi Jagdeep

Can't help with the costs of tree removal, but one thing I'd advise is to check with your local council about tree preservation orders. Many mature trees, especially the more unusual ones, have TPO's put on them, and you have to ask permission to cut them back, or down.

best wishes

willowjay

[The Woodman]

What I should have said when I said "for any purpose" was the valid point made by willowjay about TPO's. I advised about an arborists report because if the tree is subject to a TPO, the local council will expect a report from a suitably qualified and experienced person.

To find out whether the tree/s are covered by a TPO contact your local council tree officer - they're usually very user friendly.

The potential of heave should be reduced by removing the eucalyptus and leaving the pear - if as you say - the pear is mature I would expect it to be much older than the eucalyptus and therefore any heave would have already happened.

Large pears are unusual and quite beautiful trees and if they had rights they deserve to be here rather than the antipodean interloper!

No, you don't need a tree surgeon. Without getting into the technicalities of chainsaw use and the necessary training and qualifications you can get the tree felled by anyone who is competent to do it basically. I don't know the circumstances of your tree and it's situation so am stabbing at this one. However, I wouldn't imagine that the tree could be felled from the base so that leaves the only option of dismantling. Not a job for the amateur or jobbing gardner. This really is in the realm of the trained and certified tree surgeon who will be using the proper equipment, the proper method and even trained in self recovery should anything happen when he's scampering around the crown.

The choice is yours as to who you get to fell it. I just ask you to consider the risk. If it's straightforward - lets say that the tree can be felled into an open area or even on to the road - it could be done cheaper. If not , leave it to the experts.

As I write this, I'm looking out of the window at a group of wonderful large eucalypts growing in a private arboretum. They're in the right place. I believe they are deep rooted due their normal habitat being very dry. The roots will be looking for that moisture deep down. They are very good wind bearers and stable rooted so that leads to think that. I may be wrong, mine is a view borne of observation only.

As rule of thumb only, roost will spread as far as the crown is wide. Root growth always takes the easiest passage through the substrate. If it's mainly rock, the roost will grow into the cracks, if it's waterlogged ground the roots will grow across the surface. With clay the roots will infiltrate those tiny cracks and due to the nature of that medium, lift can occur because clay is an uncompressible mass.

I hope that's of some use.