Ficus Tree - South of Spain

Susannah

Hi, I am Susannah living in the UK but have just come back from helping my brother out at his house in south of Spain, on the coast. There are several Ficus trees which were shrubs when I last last there 9 years ago. Now they are 30 foot high heavily branched trees, some multi trunked, and causing complete shade. There are signs of aerial tree (above ground) roots which have extended to under the patio. We cant get these trees cut down without local permission - and we have been refused. We are worried about the roots system getting through to our basement. We got into trouble for cutting one down; with a girth of 25 inches. The stump is about 6" above ground and the aerial roots still in place. What can we do to kill this root (stop it sprouting again). We are worried the roots will carry on growing into our basement even though we have cut the tree down. Finally, are there any allergies that this tree causes ? I was told that it can give a skin disease called Urticaria ? Is this so - and does it apply when wet or is it the pollen. Any ammunition you can give us so that we can get permission to have this pest of a species taken down, will help our cause. Thanks

Eric Frei

Welcome

I moved your post from the Welcome thread as it's a good one.

Yes, ficus trees can cause many problems and with the recent amount of research I have done on tree roots and there impact upon soil and structures you have plenty of ammo.

First of all, yes, I suffer from rashes from these trees, caused from the dust/sawdust/sap. However in the authorities eyes they may think providing the tree isn't cut you wont suffer the problem.

More info on that here. Photo dermatitis from ficus sap, and there's others too.

There's many types of ficus trees, you need to get it identified, take some pics, close up of leaves and overall. We will then be able to inform you of the mature size.

They have an aggressive root system which can easily travel 7x the drip line of the tree.

Also you need to know what type of foundation and soil the house has. Tree roots can go beneath a raft slab and extract moisture. On a reactive clay soil the raft slab may subside and the house cracks (if made of brick). Cracks generally start from corners and windows/doors etc and travel along the mortar lines of the brick. Look carefully over the house and see.

There's this thread on soil subsidence and trees. Soil subsidence and trees

So, if you are to take on the authorities so you can remove this tree then you need to do some research and supply some data. Then hit them between the eyes.

In extreme circumstances authorities may argue that if root barrier and pruning were undertaken the tree could stay for many years ... that would be their only saviour. In response to that and the long term costs and maintenance as root barrier doesn't last forever is offering a replacement planting, something more suitable.

Failing all of the above, also discreetly find out if dead trees are protected or deemed hazardous and removed.

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Susannah

Thank you Eric for your quick and detailed response. I need to get a leaf then you can identify the specis. This Ficus seems to be the most common species that is planted in Spain.

The one we cut down before being caught - the one with the aerial root noseing its way to our patio 6 feet away (the marble has already cracked) - will it sprout again? What is the best way to kill this off ? I had heard if you cut the tree down, its tree root system goes into overdrive and manifests itself again. Is this true ?

By the way, as the tree we cut down was about 20 feet tall, and out patio is 6 feet from the trunk, what would you estimate the root length to be ?

We have 4 larger specimens all grouped together and within 30 feet of the patio (and basement).

In between the patio and the tree root is turf which is constantly wet - we think because the underground pipe from a water sprinkler system which runs between the tree and out patio has been "attacked" by the root system. The underground pipe is not very deep under the surface.

Your thoughts would be welcome. Many thanks.

Eric Frei

Ficus roots can travel easily 7x canopy width.

If you poison that root chances are you may kill other trees as the roots graft underground.

It will probably be either ficus benjamina or hillii, one droops and the other is stiffer but leaves are very similar. Ficus tend to jump roots barriers within 2 years, and they'll grow over the top! BAD TREES NEAR BUILDINGS!

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mdvaden

And they look so cute in pots in our shopping malls here. They don't grow outside in Oregon.

antonioarganda

I live in México and the rules here are the same as in Spain. It is almost impossible to get the authorities to permit the removal of a noxious tree. I would suggest that several large copper nails in the trunk of the tree have the effect of putting the tree down over a relatively short period (Under a year).
The number of such nails is a function of the size of the trunk. Normally, one five penny nail every two inches of circumference will do the trick.

sueann

Wow! I think I'll leave my one's in their pots and just re-pot them every year or so.

glennak

Does this copper nail thing really work? I have cut several trees down that have had bits of copper driven in to them. One Grevillea had very red wood the others didn't seem to be affected but they were not put in every 2". After all plants need copper to grow, but not as much as a pocket full of nails.
Roundup doesn't seem to affect figs so you would need something stronger. As for the stump if it is shooting its alive if it's not it's dead. Either way it will not be wasting energy growing more roots. it will be putting everything into growing leaves to help it survive.
A root barrier to stop the other trees may be the only alternative keep it above ground and watch for roots trying to get over it. Poisoning the stump may affect the other trees as ekka said.

Todd

Hello Susannah,

I have some fig tree issues myself, so I am interested to see how you got on, and what you did in the end.

Thanks

antonioarganda

Ficus trees are fine in open spaces, where the surface roots cannot effect walls , sidewalks, or foundations. The grass under the tree will eventually wither, but other than that , they are ok. This cannot be said if the tree is within several meters of a building , fence or sidewalk. They quickly (several years) lift the concrete and destroy it. In Argentina, several major cities have banned the planting of any type of ficus because of its destructive propensities. There are plenty of fine trees, (oaks e.g.) which have tap roots and do not destroy surface concrete. The red oak , native to North America is fast-growing and beautiful.
Your friend in Mexico,
Antonio Arganda

Joey Meister

my favorite trees are ficus, but here I can only grow them in pots, and if I let them go to long before re-potting they let me know buy cracking clay pots in half, they also will sucker, making them good for bonsai. not so good for your yard.

Todd

Thanks Guys,

I know figs trees are great park and forest trees, but mine is 2.8 metres from the house and has a circumference of 6m. And because it is a native the council won't let me remove it.

Has anyone got any ideas?

Thanks,
Tim

Brent Ferris

I haven't found copper nails work too well. Copper can be toxic, as can nickel in fairly small quantities, but the big problem is being in a form that the the tree will absorb. Most "copper" nails are steel nails with copper coating (here at least), and the copper is so tightly bound that it has little effect on the tree. True copper nails could never be hammered into a tree, because they are so soft.
But a solution of copper or nickel ions added to the watering system can certainly kill trees. I have never looked at amounts. THe biggest two problems are--the tree will obviously have been poisoned (foliar symptoms), and ground saturated with these ions won't allow the growth of anything else. So killing the tree to grow something else doesn't work, unless you want no trees.
Having said that, the soils around Sudbury Ontario, have high concentrations of copper and nickel (atmospheric fallout) and there are some plants that will grow in these situations. For example, in wet areas, bulrushes will extract toxic minerals from the watery soil (purifying it somewhat) without being affected itself. So poisoning a soil might give you a "groundcover" where the tree was actually a better solution. Need more research there.

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