Sycamore Tree

Waterbut · August 2023

Our small front open garden runs onto the pavement and covers a lot of sewage pipes. I have cultivated a small area around a sycamore tree which is on the border line of my neighbours property (their car drive). It shades their garden but not ours. Obviously it has large roots sucking up water and nutrients. Plus the sewage pipes running underneath. I have some success with plants eg Rosemary and Aquilegia but a lot of failures. Can anyone suggest any plants with shallow roots that I could try and grow that produce colourful flowers. They would be in full sun most if the day. Thanks

Stephanie newish gardener · August 2023

If the sycamore isn't huge (though frankly even if it is) I would get it cut down. They are just vertical weeds and it will become the bane of your life at various times of the year.
It drops bits in spring, then drops flowers, then seeds, then leaves. The leaves on their own would be ok, but it's the seeds that are the worst, because they pretty much ALL germinate and in the spring you will be pulling out seedlings from every tiny crack and every bare piece of ground. And then in the summer you will find bigger ones that you missed but can still just pull out, and then early the next spring you will find even more that are just too big to pull out, and which will almost certainly be in an inaccessible crevice too small for any kind of digging instrument.
They are also big trees with hefty roots which may well do damage to the sewage pipes, and you could bet that the water company would want to charge you for the damage done by your tree.
If it is actually your neighbour's tree then I would talk nicely to them about cutting it down.
Just my thoughts here, but all said from years of experience of flippin sycamores!

Dovefromabove · August 2023

All of the above … plus the problems caused by aphids … dripping honeydew and causing sooty mould on everything … not something for a smallish garden IMHO 😊

Sendmesun · August 2023

Hi Arossrob
I've got a huge sycamore at the bottom of our shared garden . I echo what others say about the giant weed that is the sycamore as the seedlings are tiresome. I keep the sycamore for now despite hating it as there are flats across from us and it's very old and established.

Flower wise I grow shasta crazy daisies, rose campion, catmint (nepata bokratune), cosmos, perenial osteospernum, spring bulbs, primroses, and hardy geraniums. They seem shallow rooters. Yes, and lots of sycamore seedlings. I have mostly hebe shrubs-they probably are too deep rooting for you

Lots of rain here though helps balance it out. One day we will probably get it chopped down though as it shades the garden at 7pm. I water lots too despite being in Scotland.

Waterbut · August 2023

I agree with your comments. Sadly the builders have planted it on the border line of my house and my neighbours house so it is debatable who owns it. The man of the house wants it down like me but his wife refuses to allow this. Even when I offered to pay the costs. So up it stays. Fortunately he pays to have it trimmed down every year.

Thank you for the plant suggestions.

JennyJ · August 2023

You might want to share the comment above about potential damage to sewage pipes. Not just the cost but also the inconvenience if their sewage pipe leaks or is unusable for any period of time.

Dovefromabove · August 2023

Your buildings insurers might want to discuss this tree with your neighbours’ buildings insurers. 🤔

NormandyLiz · August 2023

Dovefromabove said:

Your buildings insurers might want to discuss this tree with your neighbours’ buildings insurers. 🤔

My thoughts exactly. Insurers aren't generally fond of trees near houses, especially big ones.

Sendmesun · August 2023

They are weeds maybe she could be persuaded by a more suitable and productive tree. If mine were new, I would fight tooth and nail to have it removed. Mine is Victorian so we coexist. We all moan. No one takes the initiative as it provides privacy. Previously I chopped a young one down in a tree conservation area (! Sorry not sorry) as it was 1 meter from the house and clearly self seeded in my garden . Too big only suitable for big parks and I wish you well in getting it removed. Can't believe a builder would plant one that's bonkers. We're talking maybe 50ft of tree here! If within 6 feet of the house yes it affects the insurance and gives you good grounds to get it removed since that's a common question. My monster, should it fall will fall short of this building but in a changing more stormy climate who wants a giant tree next to them? Hopefully we have given you the ammunition to move forward on this 🤞

Sycamore Tree

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