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Lawsons Cypress tree full of ivy

anikabkanikabk Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi,

We have 3 very large, ivy infested Lawson Cypress trees on our east boundary. We have a 4th tree which our neighbour topped years ago before we moved in, and requires annual trimming. We are about to remove it- small enough to do ourselves.

We are not sure what to do with the other 3. They provide wind shelter as well as screening from multiple houses. I’ve been told cutting out/ringing the ivy will leave very ugly trees.

we are about to start re-landscaping the garden and not sure what to do.... the main flowerbed is below the trees- terrible growing conditions.

advise welcome!

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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    Those conifers are sapping all the nutrients and moisture from the surrounding soil so if you plan on having flourishing flowers or shrubs you're going to have to enlarge the beds away from them and add plenty - and I mean loads - of well rotted garden compost and/or manure to improve the soil and its nutrients and moisture levels.

    I would consider having the conifers completely removed, along with the ivy, and maybe erect a trellis or arbour or pergola to provide a privacy screen and allow you to grow more attractive, colourful and perfumed plants.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • anikabkanikabk Posts: 3

    Thank you for your reply.

    It’s looking more likely we will remove them! I’m quite excited.

    this leads to another question- positioned near 2 of them I intend to pave- under the trimmed one extending the existing patio, and the other again 3x3m with Indian sandstone slabs.

    i had a quote from a tree surgeon this morning who said I would not need to remove all the roots, but I’d be surprised by that, as surely the roots would rot? And then create a void and cause movement... and moisture levels would change and possible cause heave? His price excluded grinding I think to appear the cheapest but I don’t want to cut corners if it will cause future problems. I questioned how far the grinding went down (18”) but no other roots are removed. Maybe the builder would then remove them?

    perhaps I need to start a new thread with amended topic...

    thanks for any any further advice?

  • turmericturmeric Posts: 830

    I tried to plant up a bed once in the distant past, where two small conifers had been growing for some years (nowhere near as tall as yours).  The conifers had been removed and cut off at ground level.  Trying to find space to plant between the established roots was almost impossible.  Not sure how realistic it is to remove all the roots as they may have travelled a distance but perhaps worth thinking about removing those in the beds/borders just so that you have a clear space to start with and more flexibility over where you put your new plants. Just a thought.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    When we bought our garden and house in Harrow in 1983 there was a row of a dozen 30' high conifers between us and our neighbour to the east which meant we never saw the sunrise and she hardly got any rain or a sunset.  We cut them down to 4' high and removed all the lower branches then used the stumps to rock the roots out after leaving them to rot for a year.  Conifer roots rot pretty quickly in the ground and it was easy for us to hack the bigger ones with an axe.  We didn't experience any heave in the path of paving slabs that was revealed after the wide, lower branches were removed.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632

    The person stumpgrinding will be able to chase any huge roots back a few feet, leaving smaller ones under ground. I would not worry too much about the ground, unless you plan to spend an absolute fortune on patio areas!

  • anikabkanikabk Posts: 3

    Thanks all for your advice.

    I am still in a state of amazement that, after 6 yrs urging my husband to remove them, that in one afternoon of him cutting back the small one, he saw how the sun blocked light etc, and saw our neighbour’s huge sequoia just behind it, which will give us the screening we want, that he decided it would be a good idea to remove them!!! Ha ha- I don’t want to go down that road, but anyway, I had several quotes yesterday and they are coming out tomorrow!!! 

    I can post post a few pics if you want to see the before and after!

    thanks again!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    Oooh yes please ... we love before and after photos image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016

    Probably unlikely, but you should check with your local council that there are no TPOs on the trees before having them removed.

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