Kill it or Leave It?
The home we’ve recently moved into has this tree growing in the backyard. Short of decapitating dandelions I’m not much of a gardener but I’m a bit concerned about how close the tree is to the house. It is starting to lean a bit… pushing itself away from the house (not really obvious in the photo).
I would appreciate any suggestions in regards to what we should be doing here. Is the tree okay this close to the house? Should it be cut down? Or maybe just thinned out a bit.
Brent Knowles
Former lead designer at BioWare (Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights). Creator of Raiders of the Serpent Sea.
65 Comments
Bev
Its a Ceder tree Brent,It is to close your house… It will wreck the paint on your house,,,,Barry says you could try trimming it,but if it was him he would just cut it down…
The Girls
trim it
Gordondholden
I had a very similar situation Brent, and had spiders roosting in it to boot. I ended up trimming away the back half, leaving room between the tree and the house, and shaping what was left into a beautiful woman in a bikini…well, just kidding about the bikini part…lol. Anyway, it looks great! : )
S. Beshev
I would removed it. If is not causing problems now it sure will in the future.
Gordondholden
Please don’t give out my email to anyone. Thanks.
Teri Gidwitz
Remove it, or if your tree expert tells you it can survive, move it. It’s got to be doing a number on your foundation too.
sahaguru
Kill the curiosity which improves your skill. Leave an expression of achieving .
Mark
That is definitely too close. It is always advisable to trim any branches that contact the house or gutters because when the wind blows physical damage can occur to the structure of the house. Besides this one does not look very attractive to me. Cut it down. First cut about half way down, then maybe a lower cut, and make the final cut at or even a little below the ground. Then you can plant something that you want there. Buy from a reputable nursery in your area and ask questions about what would go good in the spot you want to plant in. Get any other questions you have answered also. Also remember that if the tree is near power lines it might be advisable to get professional help and in some areas it is a legal requirement. Don’t risk electrocution to save a little money!
waynemansfield
Chop down for me mate
Mike R.
Definitely I’d be cutting this one down, carefully…
Julie Shatswell
Take it down. That could be a huge problem in the future esp with the root system.
Brent Knowles
Thanks Bev!
Brent Knowles
Hah! I’m thinking of trimming it first and then evaluating afterwards.
Brent Knowles
Thanks
Brent Knowles
No worries.
Brent Knowles
Wow, thanks for the detailed advice!
Brent Knowles
Definitely will do a trim right away and then evaluate whether to chop the entire thing down.
Baja By Bus
Get rid!
Tru2psu
First, the shrub looks like a Yew – very deep roots. May be very difficult to remove and replant.
Ajarn Donald
Leave it, Love it, Let it live and it will help out nature and the environment. :)
Suzanne St Amand
Wait until Christmas and use it as your Christmas tree.
Randy L Dyck
This tree looks a lot like our junipers. We have 2 at each corner of the front of our house, 25 feet tall and about 2 feet from the foundation. See a couple of pics of our yard on Google+
These things aren’t getting any taller, and they do well in the dry soil next to the house. Others say the same, see links at bottom. They aren’t like spruce or fir that have huge taproots to put pressure on your foundation.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Uim_W1US8OU/T8WRKN4vTlI/AAAAAAAAAG8/-IsH65HGdek/w324-h243-n-k/DSCF1165.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JH0ahor6hXE/T8WRN2gFdLI/AAAAAAAAAHE/e47BkpZdT9M/w324-h243-n-k/DSCF1179.JPG
Your picture makes it look more like an Eastern Redcedar or a Mountian Redcedar, which are actually Junipers.
http://treesandshrubs.about.com/od/selection/tp/Juniper-Trees-Shrubs-species.htm
http://www.homefocus.com/ask-the-expert/archive/landscaping/general/6481/
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/trees-shrubs/foundation-plants.htm
If it is really leaning away from the house, you might want to prune the branches against the house side a bit. Or, just cut the thing down.
Hope that all helps you make up your mind.
Catherine White
Now that’s a nice Christmas tree :D
Colin_turnbull
Chop, chop
Richard Bradford
Cut it down.
Brent Knowles
Yes, my wife doesn’t want it cut down because she wants to decorate it for Christmas.
Brent Knowles
Yes, that’s what my wife wants to do :)
Brent Knowles
Thanks Randy for the details and photos.
Shawn
We had a couple smaller versions of your tree/bush when I was kid and they seemed to attract alot of bees and hornets, so we ended up getting rid of them.
But Root wise I am not sure how strong they are.
Pam Rumer
Since your wife likes the tree, you should try moving it. as that would make her happy (and that is important). I’d read about transplanting evergreens first, or consult an expect. I agree it is too close to the house and depending upon the root system, it could get into pipes, cause cracks in the foundation, etc.
Dianne
That tree is nice for beautification and for maintaining fresh air. You can just trim but not cut all…
Brent Knowles
Thanks Shawn. The yard does seem a bit more bee/hornet heavy than our last.
Brent Knowles
We might do this though the yard isn’t terribly large (i.e., might not be another location for it).
Syarif S. Arman
Agree…just trim it…it can be your outdoor christmas tree later…Love tree! @BangGowes:twitter
April Elyse Martin
I say leave it!!
Craig Meyer
Kill it. Its ugly anyway
Greg Bepper
Yep, Randy is right … it’s a Juniper (Type of conifer) .. They don’t ‘trim all that well. No TREE, which it is… should be that close to a house. Roots will find their way into the drainage system looking for water. Remove it and replace with a shrub
Aytakin
Leave it
Andreas Wiedow
1) This size the tree MUST have roots deep down that keep growing and will finally ruin (the wall of) the house.2) The tree has been planted too close to the house in the first place.
So remove it. Question is, how ?
Solutions.
1) Removing including roots – be careful because of the house.
2) Dunno if it would keep growing if roots were left underground.
3) Make something useful out of it: Cut it down to a size that you can use it as a table for BBQ or kids to play. Depends on the diameter of the root.
mcwright
I’d get rid of it…it’s too close, it will eventually hurt foundation and drainage…plant a hydrangea a bit farther from the wall…
Milieunet
It’s close to the hous, but just leave it.
Skyhi
I agree with mcwright it will eventuallt damage the foundation. PS remember when cutting down to cut the trunk under grounf level other wise you will be mowing around it until it rots away.
Diny
I would prefer the small one in the container. His big brother is too close to the house and will damage in in the long turn.
Robbie
I think as well that it’s too near to house foundation, maybe you can just think about moving it 2 meters away…
Christer Olsson
I’d try to trim and thin it, and if does not respond well – remove it.
geoffrey
Check the roots out..you could trim it …also make sure it does not wilt.. worse case is… you transfer it
Brent Knowles
:)
Brent Knowles
Thanks Greg.
Brent Knowles
Thanks Andreas. Definitely will do something useful with the remains.
Brent Knowles
Thanks Skyhi