Jaques d'Alltrades wrote:

The message
from "IanG" contains these words:


The tree was cut back (by a proper tree surgon) in sept 2003 as it was too
big for the garden. No fruit last year or this year. Next door have said
that it has not had fruit on it for a long time. It would be great to keep
it but is just too big for the garden and the shoots from the roots causing
havoc with the rest of the garden. So back to the original question "what
is the best way to remove it from my garden"?


*NEVER* cut a tree down and then remove the roots - it makes a lot of
hard work. Rather, attach a rope fairly high up on the tree.

Take a lot of the crown out if it is going to present a problem on the
way down. Otherwise the weight will assist. Ignore suggestion of rope as
the roots may require several tonnes of pull before they go and read
below.

Dig round
it deeply and cut as many roots as you can find.

Get some help to pull it over.

Hopefully there is a solid anchor point such as a bigger tree within 40
feet or so. If there is, you go to the local hire place and rent a
tirfor winch for the day. wind the cable around the highest point you
can safely reach and the lowest point of the anchor tree. Once you have
some movement, go in and find those big roots you missed. Severing just
a few will help.


Dig remainder of earth from roots and drag the tree out of the hole.

Leave the roots on, cut off branches, and when the cuts have dried,
cover them with wax or gloss paint, [8] and it'll be just what I want.

But I bet you're no-where near East Anglia...

[8] Stops evaporation there and prevents the wood cracking.