Big Col

Situation is this....

I have several mature trees in my property. About 18 months ago we decided to get 2 removed. It was all done properly, asking the relevant authorities if we could remove them. They agreed due to them being diseased.

The tree surgeons removed one no problem but the 2nd due to it's location would be more difficult, and therefore more expensive to remove. Trying to save a bit of cash we decided just to get the 2nd 'difficult' tree cut to about half it's height leaving basically just a trunk about 15m high.

The problem is this tree that was condemned is now re growing branches at an alarming rate. I really don't want to get hit with another tree surgeons bill so is there anything I can do to stop it growing?

Jap2Scrap

Get some copper nails - big ones mind - and hammer as many into the trunk of the tree, as low to the roots as you can.

Big Col

I thought that method was just a rumour. Does it really work?

Jap2Scrap

Well it really worked on the Ash trees coming up in my garden. Our place was built in the 80's on a forest of Ash trees and the ******* are coming back with a vengeance.

It might work better on some species than others I guess but in my experience it definitely worked.

I used a hell of a lot of copper though

OllyK

Just be careful which way it will fall when it does die!

Ringing it can kill a tree off - not always but it is pretty effective. You can also drill and treat the roots, see earlier caveat!

Big Col

that was my next question. Will it definately fall if the copper nail method is effective. I can't risk it falling.

Jap2Scrap

Hmmmm, can't answer that really. The Ash trees I dealt with were small enough to chainsaw down and haul away once it was apparent they'd died. Leaves dropped off, bark went a funny colour and it looked 'droopy'. I just wanted to make sure the root system was history rather than have to dig it all out.

Oh, by the way, rather than try and get copper nails per sé get some old copper tube (thick wall) and mitre cut it in 3" lengths to hammer in as nails. Stuff reclaimed from old boilers and that is ideal. New copper tube and copper nails are expensive!

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Drive a Hilux into it Worked for Top Gear apparently

Dracoro

Or just cut the branches off every few months (or however long they take to grow out again). All you need is a cheap saw.

Big Col

I don't have access to a ladder that big and also I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to heights

OllyK

If the tree is dead, it will fall over, it's just a question of when.

David_Wallis

15m isnt really a problem to drop it, unless theres something nearby??

Forget tree surgeons, what you need is a man with a chainsaw.

Where about are you

Poisioning it could cause 'unpredictable' probs.. ie if you cant risk it dropping dont posion it.

PCatWork

Copper nails is a myth. The reason it worked for j2s was probably that he drove enough metal into the tree to interupt the vascular system, which does the same job as ring barking.

The easiest way is to get some round-up (weed killer) from b&q, and spray it onto the leaves. You will probably need several applications to get a result.

thundertiger

cant you drill into the roots and soak in diesel???

Jap2Scrap

You're probably right about driving the nails that far in I'm surprised the bloody thing didn't just fall down at that point to be honest.

All I was saying though is that the tree died after I drove the copper in. It didn't take very long and definitely gave the appearance of it being because of the copper.

Tim-Grove

I can vouch for that, it works a treat