Advice about removing a tree needed please

[Ian White]

Guys

When i was strimming my new plot yesterday i found just on the edge of it a tree,not too sure what type it is about 3-4 ft tall,i am going to dig it out when it stop's raining ,What would be the best way to deal with the roots i car't get out could i apply some sort of weedkiller.

Thanks for reading this post,Ian

[The Mouse]

I´m no expert, Ian, but if the tree is only 3 or 4ft high, I would have thought you could dig out most of the roots. It depends what sort it is, I suppose, but there´s very little chance it will grow back again from the bits of root that get left in.
My advice would be to dig it out as planned, with as much root as possible, but then just keep an eye out incase there is any new growth. If that should happen - and I doubt if it will - you could either have another dig, or treat the new growth with a weedkiller that´s designed for trees.

[Ian White]

Thank you very much for your help,now all i have to do is pray it stops raining

All the best,Ian

[The Mouse]

Thank you very much for your help,now all i have to do is pray it stops raining

All the best,Ian

You're lucky if you can dig your new plot over winter. Mine is on such heavy soil that I doubt if I'll be able to do anything there until at least March, unless we get a really long dry spell!

I will spend the next few months dreaming of next year's wonderful crops, and planning what I'm going to grow and where it will go. Deciding exactly where to put all the things I want to grow has been a problem in the past, but I managed to get my hands on an extra bit of allotment this year, so this time that shouldn't be a problem.

I can't wait to get digging again!

[glallotments]

No digging for us either after almost a month of solid rain on clay soil!

Ian if the tree is diffcult to remove with a spade try using a pick axe or a mattock as you can give it a bit more welly!

[Johnboy]

Hi Mouse and Glallotments,
Have you tried covering your plots with HD black Polythene for a while as this will dry them out a bit. Then when fairly dry use digging boards to work from as you dig your plots.
When I lived in Hertfordshire, famous for it's clay soil, I used this method and it was quite successful. Because I was in the armed forces at the time I only had certain periods at home and was away for quite long periods so had to do the digging when I wanted and not able to wait for the weather. It certainly worked out most years. I hasten to add that this was before Polythene sheeting and I had to use Tarpaulins over the plot.
JB.

[glallotments]

Hi JB,
Most of the plot is dug over now so there is no mad rush, to be honest the weather isn't too conducive to being out - I'm a softie. I use it as a time to indulge my other interests. Some parts where fruit bushes have been removed are large clods which we want the weather to try and soften and break down.

[Ian White]

Hi Mouse and Glallotments,
Have you tried covering your plots with HD black Polythene for a while as this will dry them out a bit. Then when fairly dry use digging boards to work from as you dig your plots.
When I lived in Hertfordshire, famous for it's clay soil, I used this method and it was quite successful. Because I was in the armed forces at the time I only had certain periods at home and was away for quite long periods so had to do the digging when I wanted and not able to wait for the weather. It certainly worked out most years. I hasten to add that this was before Polythene sheeting and I had to use Tarpaulins over the plot.
JB.

Thanks for the tip Johnboy,i'll give it a go

All the best,Ian

[Mike Vogel]

Hi ian,
If your tree is only 3-4 feet tall, you might consider keeping it as a windbreak. You can stop it growing taller by regular pruning, and of course you don't want it to shade vegetables underneath it, but at 4 feet it won't cast too much shade. You could dig round it as close as you can get and root-prune as you go.

Alterantively, if you do cut it down or dig it out, you may not need to worry about the roots. they may not survive the shock to the plant's system and may just rot in the ground, feeding the crops you are growing over them.

I wouldn't worry too much; take the action you decide with the tree and then just cultivate the plot as if it were never there.