Laburnam Tree Help After Storms
Magical Meerkat
Posts: 311
Hello all.
I've asked for some help about this tree before, and it definitely needs more help now. My boyfriend thinks I should cut it down, but I'm hoping it can be saved.
So here's the story. We moved in Nov 2012 and found this in the front garden
It was like a laurel jungle, the top went past the telephone wires!
I took on the challenge and cut the whole lot down to 2.5 feet and found a Laburnam Tree hiding in the middle. Come spring it shot into life and it even flowered a little to my surprise.
This is the tree last winter
Ok now to the issue. It the recent storms it has been rocking around and created a hole around the stem (see picture) and I've noticed near the crown it seems to be diseased/dying (see picture).
So is it a on it's way out? should I stake it somehow? Should I cut all crown and all branches off below the rotting, so it's just a trunk? Will it re-shoot?
Just a note the ground it very solid around the tree with Laurel roots! Please help?
Thank you 
Posts
Sorry MM, I think it's the end for the laburnum. too much rot. If it's rocking the roots are probably going as well
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi Nutcutlet,
I did think that might be the case. It's a shame because the birds love sitting in it. Do you think I could leave it, and let something climb up it?
I have thought about replacing it with a small rowan tree, but I'm not sure how that would do in competition with the laurel roots. Do you think it could survive, if looked after?
I wouldn't grow anything up it, it will fall over
Could you plants a rowan, or any other small tree,a bit further away from the laurels?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Ok, The tree will have to come down. That can be tomorrows project!
I could put a tree on the right hand side of the corner, there are less roots there, It would be close to the neighbour's fence though, so I might have to check with them?
Sadly we are renting, and I am wary of how much change we do to the garden.(Although the landlord didn't notice or mention the missing laurel when he visited)
If it was mine, I'd remove all the laurel.
I agree about the laurel. I have some. Some are OK but some have thinned out a lot at the bottom so the kids can't use them for hide and seek any more. Then I cut bits back and other bits die back. Coral spot moves in.
If I were starting again there would be no laurel
In the sticks near Peterborough
It does seem to want to take over this garden, there certainly isn't any thinning out going on. Some of the stems/trunks are about 15cm thick! Its just a brute of a plant. I hope your laurel doesn't start to conquer your garden to.
It won't beat us. We have chain saw
The ones that have thinned out are probably too shaded. They've thinned out and no longer serve their purpose of stopping the north westerlies
In the sticks near Peterborough
Oooh a chainsaw, boyfriend would love one of those, we cut our monster down by hand,, hard work but very rewarding.
I must admit they must be protecting our garden from some of the wind, even though they a lot smaller. Good luck with your north westerlies.