Keeping the peace with my neighbour

FarCanal

The tree in question is in Hong Kong, but looks like a Moreton Bay Fig.

The location is on my land but the roots have already lifted and cracked the adjacent concrete path and next in line are the house foundations, hence my concern. A trench examination in conjunction with a termite treatment has revealed some roots close to the house, but non penetrating yet.

The tree is approx 18 years old and 40 - 45 feet high with a trunk diameter of 12 to 14 inches at waist height.

I have council approval to remove, but here is my dilema:
The house was bought off subdivided land owned by the lady next door. Not only is she a very sweet old dear, but she also planted the tree, and as she uses my path(now my land!) as a more convenient access for her property, not only sees the tree every day, but often remarks how wonderful it is. Clearly therefore, to just chop it down, despite the coming threat to my house, would possible cause much bad feeling.

I would like some advice on what I may do to cause it to die slowly so that her wrath is not invoked, and perhaps offer some advice as to what kind of short, but dense trees could be planted then along the boundary line, to replace the one that has gone, and seal off her unwanted constant access. Obviously in the tropics, we get plenty of sun and rain, min temp is about 10'c in winter, up to 30-35'c in summer.

I know I should just get someone in, remove it and have it done with, but the loss of good neighbourly relations is something I don't wish for at present.

Any thoughts or suggestions greatfully received. Thankyou.

windthrown

Why not just cut the roots between the house and tree? Root pruning we call it here. Dig a straight trench and cut the roots with a chainsaw about 2 meters away from the house foundation and sidewalks.

One way to kill the tree would be to girdle it; cut a one inch strip in a circle around the base of the tree cutting through the cambium (green) layer. That will casue the sugars in the top of the tree to not reach the roots, and the roots will die. The top will look great for about a year and then die rapidly. Once the roots are dead the top cannot stay alive and it also dies. This method is used to kill trees that have sucker roots that you want to kill, rather than just cutting the tree down and having the roots live to sprout again. Some animals girdle trees naturally, like sheep, voles and goats. They eat the cambium of the trees and kill them.

I feel sorry for the old lady though, and maybe I should not post this information here???

Jeff Darby

Hi FarCanal,

1/
You could always place a root barrier between your house and the roots.
2/
I feel you should be honest with your neigbour, It's your tree on your land now, you need to explain its has simply outgrown it's location and as much as you would really like to keep it, you just can not because it threatening your house and feel it should be addressed sooner rather than later and needs to be cut down.

Also discuss with her your choice of replacement tree to go in its place, reassuring her more trees will replace it. With her using your place for a short cut....put a fence up... it says it all.

__________________

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Eric Frei

Start applying Cambistat.

Maybe bit of a prune too.

__________________

FarCanal

Thankyou for the suggestions.

When I inspected for the roots that had progressed under the path to the house last week, a trench was dug, and the few that were found were cut. The largest were only about 2'' diameter, and there were about 9 of them heading towards the house. I assume as they are now cut, they will shrivel and die, but my concern is if the tree remains. I hadn't thought of a root barrier, I will look into that to see what I need, thanks.

However the concrete path is already rooted so to speak, has lifted and cracked in a few places so ultimately will have to be replaced. I do not wish to offend her by putting up a fence, although it would instantly solve the access problem!

My elderly neighbour, despite her age, has eyes like a hawk and would spot a 1" cut round the trunk, faster than her zimmer frame topples over! So I feel I would like the tree to die slowly, then replace it with a line of thicker trees, on the boundary, that would hopefully give her the hint to use her own drive.

If I was to use a granular type weedkiller, liberally watered into the base of the tree area, would this work? If so, any suggestions on type/name of product? I travel to Australia regularly so could probably obtain from agricultural supplies shops there, but at present I wouldn't know what to ask for.

If there is anyone with knowledge of dense foliage trees that would grow well in the tropics to replace the current problem tree, all suggestions gratefully received.

Thankyou again for your help.

windthrown

You could inject the tree with Garlon (Triclopyr) or that type of herbicide, but the effects would be fairly rapid. I do not know of any slow kill herbicide that would work on large trees. Seems like the old lady would die faster?

FarCanal

Hi Windthrown, JD and Ekka - thankyou all very much for your inputs, I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and try and discuss the issue with her diplomatically, after I've given it a small injection of Garlon.

Thanks again all, I've had a trawl through some of the other aspects of the site, most interesting.
I even managed to help my son answer one of his school questions on Lignum Vitae.
Brgds.

sueann

I think it's very nice of you to care about your neighbour like that.