On Fri, 27 May 2005 18:12:45 GMT, dave wrote:

A bit OT (possible neigbour problem with their tree) this but would appreciate
advice. They have mature ash tree that's about 50 feet from our house. Sounds
like a long way - but it's a huge tree - the branches are over half way across
our garden and about 10 feet from our bedroom widow. I like have lots of trees
around but am concerned about what might be happening below ground due to this
tree. Does the root shape of an ash tree mirror it's branch shape to any degree.
I know nothing about gardening but I've heard some tree have more morizontal
roots while other mainly go deep.
Thanks

One of Britain's largest native deciduous trees. Can grow to 130 ft
or more height, life up to 200 years and in favourable circumstances
can attain a trunk girth of 20 feet. They have a dense mass of
horizontal roots close to the surface and can thus be a bit of a
nuisance to farmers if established in a hedgerow. Not generally
recommended in proximity to houses.

Would it be possible for you to dig down into your ground close to the
house to check for roots? You wouldn't have to go down very far, it's
a shallow rooter. Severing roots at that distance wouldn't harm the
tree or affect its stability.