Hi,
This is my first post so please be gentle....

I have a tree that has appeared very close to my house, about 40 cm from my front wall, I didn't plant it but it appeared a couple of years ago. It looks like a fruit tree but has never borne any fruit.

It has just started to produce some pink and white flowers though, so I am wondering if it is maybe a cherry or crab apple - but not too sure.

I am just worried about it being so close to the house, I really want to keep it as it is healthy and alive and flowering, it is currently just reaching the bedroom window, so about 4 metres high including the longest branch, and the thickest part of the trunk, near the ground, is about 20cm diameter.

Can anyone offer any advice on what it is, and what I should do with it?

Thanks
lisa

Sorry, that should have been 20 cm in circumference not diameter, as in a tape measure wrapped around the trunk, lisa

In article , lisag lisag.1oeqw2@garden
banter.co.uk writes

Hi,
This is my first post so please be gentle....

I have a tree that has appeared very close to my house, about 40 cm
from my front wall, I didn't plant it but it appeared a couple of years
ago. It looks like a fruit tree but has never borne any fruit.

It has just started to produce some pink and white flowers though, so I
am wondering if it is maybe a cherry or crab apple - but not too sure.

I am just worried about it being so close to the house, I really want
to keep it as it is healthy and alive and flowering, it is currently
just reaching the bedroom window, so about 4 metres high including the
longest branch, and the thickest part of the trunk, near the ground, is
about 20cm diameter.

Can anyone offer any advice on what it is, and what I should do with
it?

That's very fast growth, to go to a 20cm diameter trunk in a couple of
years.

'Pink and white flowers' is not enough for identification. Can you post
a pic to a website and give us the url? Failing that - how big are the
flowers, how many petals do they have, are they single or in clumps, how
big are the leaves, what shape, what colour, is there any other
distinctive feature?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

In article , lisag lisag.1oeqw3@garden
banter.co.uk writes


Sorry, that should have been 20 cm in circumference not diameter, as in
a tape measure wrapped around the trunk, lisa

That's a bit better! I was thinking you had some kind of a monster
there!
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Yes, sorry bit of an error there!
Thanks for the reply, I will sort out a picture and post the link,
lisa

"lisag" wrote in message
...

Hi,
This is my first post so please be gentle....

I have a tree that has appeared very close to my house, about 40 cm
from my front wall, I didn't plant it but it appeared a couple of years
ago. It looks like a fruit tree but has never borne any fruit.

It has just started to produce some pink and white flowers though, so I
am wondering if it is maybe a cherry or crab apple - but not too sure.

I am just worried about it being so close to the house, I really want
to keep it as it is healthy and alive and flowering, it is currently
just reaching the bedroom window, so about 4 metres high including the
longest branch, and the thickest part of the trunk, near the ground, is
about 20cm diameter.

Can anyone offer any advice on what it is, and what I should do with
it?


I don't know which species of tree it is, but it sounds pretty vigorous and
there seems a distinct possibility that the root system might exert pressure
on your foundations and any drain services in the vicinity. If you have ever
seen the main root spread of, say, an ornamental cherry tree, you might be
surprised by the extent and thickness of the roots. It's got to be your
decision, of course, but if you are eventually going to have to remove the
tree to protect your house, the sooner the easier.

In message , BAC
writes

"lisag" wrote in message
...

Hi,
This is my first post so please be gentle....

I have a tree that has appeared very close to my house, about 40 cm
from my front wall, I didn't plant it but it appeared a couple of years
ago. It looks like a fruit tree but has never borne any fruit.

It has just started to produce some pink and white flowers though, so I
am wondering if it is maybe a cherry or crab apple - but not too sure.

I am just worried about it being so close to the house, I really want
to keep it as it is healthy and alive and flowering, it is currently
just reaching the bedroom window, so about 4 metres high including the
longest branch, and the thickest part of the trunk, near the ground, is
about 20cm diameter.

Can anyone offer any advice on what it is, and what I should do with
it?


I don't know which species of tree it is, but it sounds pretty vigorous and
there seems a distinct possibility that the root system might exert pressure
on your foundations and any drain services in the vicinity. If you have ever
seen the main root spread of, say, an ornamental cherry tree, you might be
surprised by the extent and thickness of the roots. It's got to be your
decision, of course, but if you are eventually going to have to remove the
tree to protect your house, the sooner the easier.


I have heard said that the roots of a tree match the canopy in terms of
size and spread - obviously this will vary according to the species and
soil, but it does give you an idea of what is going on underground.
--
Sue Begg
Remove my clothes to reply

Do not mess in the affairs of dragons - for
you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

Ok, here are the pics....

On Mon, 2 May 2005 13:09:32 +0000, lisag
wrote:


lisag Wrote:
Hi,
This is my first post so please be gentle....

I have a tree that has appeared very close to my house, about 40 cm
from my front wall, I didn't plant it but it appeared a couple of years
ago. It looks like a fruit tree but has never borne any fruit.

It has just started to produce some pink and white flowers though, so I
am wondering if it is maybe a cherry or crab apple - but not too sure.

I am just worried about it being so close to the house, I really want
to keep it as it is healthy and alive and flowering, it is currently
just reaching the bedroom window, so about 4 metres high including the
longest branch, and the thickest part of the trunk, near the ground, is
about 20cm diameter.

Can anyone offer any advice on what it is, and what I should do with
it?
That is a lot of growth for a couple of years. I guess you haven't
been in that house for very long. My second guess is that somebody may
have cut down an old tree below ground level so a prospective buyer
wouldn't be scared off. So I suggest you have a poke around up to 20
cms or so deep and see if you can find evidence of a cut off stump.
The picture isn't good enough to be sure but it does look a lot like
an apple of some sort - in which case it would probably be less
damaging than many other trees. In any case if it is as I suspect the
remains of an old tree then it's likely any damage has already been
done and the house hasn't fallen down..............yet ;~))

=================================================

Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

chop that f***er down ....fast !

Well thanks everyone for the responses, it seems that the general consensus is that I have to murder the tree - not the answer I was after, but I don't want my house to fall down, that is true!

Some extra info that I forgot to add is that I have been in the house about five years and there was a grapevine that was in that bed, even closer to the house, I had to get rid of it when the fence fell down as it was totally out of control, and this new tree appeared soon after that.

Would it be ok to leave it for this season and see what fruit, if any, it brings... or will the roots get even more vigorous during the summer?

thanks again
lisa

"lisag" wrote in message
...

Eyebright Wrote:
chop that f***er down ....fast !
Well thanks everyone for the responses, it seems that the general
consensus is that I have to murder the tree - not the answer I was
after, but I don't want my house to fall down, that is true!

Some extra info that I forgot to add is that I have been in the house
about five years and there was a grapevine that was in that bed, even
closer to the house, I had to get rid of it when the fence fell down as
it was totally out of control, and this new tree appeared soon after
that.

Would it be ok to leave it for this season and see what fruit, if any,
it brings... or will the roots get even more vigorous during the
summer?


The presence of a tree so close to your house is a recognised risk factor.
However, it is of course up to you whether or not you wish and are prepared
to take the risk. If you have decided it would be best to remove the tree,
then, given the growth rate you have reported, it would almost certainly be
a tougher proposition after a further season's growth. The ground would
probably be harder after the summer, too. If you are on a shrinkable
sub-soil, and we have a dry summer, with the trees roots sucking up moisture
from beneath your foundations, that might conceivably lead to damage.

You could perhaps call in a specialist contractor to move the tree, if you
don't want to kill it? Would probably cost a lot more than disposing of the
tree and planting a new specimen in a position where you needn't worry about
damage to your property or services, though.