Would this tree in my neighbour’s garden put you off viewing my house?

[FamilyOfAliens]

It’s in the garden of the neighbour at the back, not in my garden, but because it’s so huge it does cast shade in my garden for 1-2 hours a day.

I’ve estimated it’s about 50ft high.

I’ve spoken to the neighbour who is lovely, but not in a position to have it reduced. It’s been there since we moved here 15 years ago, but obviously it’s got way taller and it just keeps growing. It doesn't affect anything although nothing much grows at that end of the garden. It does gives us some privacy as the neighbour’s children have a tree house which would otherwise overlook our garden.

Wouldn’t put me off. We need to be planting more trees, not chopping them down what with the CO2 issues & climate change. In addition, trees are habitat for birds and other wildlife. That’s far more important than having a shade free garden imho.

That’s a high quotation.

The enormous Scots Pine I had taken down was higher than the house so perhaps 10m high. It was also incredibly wide.

All down in an afternoon, leafy bits through the chopper, trunk chopped into logs and left for the winter.

£250. And not cowboys but the firm NPower use to cut under the high voltage lines.

It is always worth asking your local Council for a quote. I had six trees like that in my back garden, four were similar height to yours, OP.

The Council sent someone round who gave a quote of £330 including VAT. I e-mailed to agree to the work and they came round within a week and cut all of them down to ground level. They brought the shredding machine with them and cleared all the debris.

This was three months ago.

It would put me off. Honestly - pay what it costs to get rid of them completely.

Would be an attraction for me. I love trees especially looking at lucious ones like that out of a window. It's a nicer view that the house behind.

It's like anything some people won't like it some people will love it. I'd love it.

Or if not the council do any colleges offer agricultural courses, if so they may offer this service too.

Would encourage me to view the house, rather than put off.

What's needed in that space is a decently tall, mixed wildlife hedge providing food and habitat as well as privacy. Those aren't doing a great job.

I actually like the tree. I would however spend abit of time cutting your lawn, making the edges neat and trimming your bushes.

I agree that a high quote, get another two.

Have it taken down to the ground, it’s a longer term solution. And it should be cheaper than trimming it.

We are in the south-east so that may be why the quote is higher, but I would shop around anyway. The guy who came was in the area so I took the opportunity to get the quote today.

I actually like the tree. I would however spend abit of time cutting your lawn, making the edges neat and trimming your bushes.

Thank you. The lawn is DH’s job but you’re right about the bushes.

The guinea pigs also tend to keep the lawn trimmed but they’ve had their work cut out for them with the rain and sun we’ve been having recently!

I’d also trim that hedge on the right , it will give you more space and light. That’s an easy DIY job.

It’s not OP’s to take down.

I agree it needs a hedge, another tree and some climbers added to.

what about the one to the left by the white outbuilding?

We had a tree similar to that in our garden and we had to get rid of it about 3 years ago. It wasn't the shade that was the problem it was damaging the path and there was always bits of fir tree all over the garden. We paid £500 to have it reduced to ground level along with a laburnum that was also making a mess.

I know it’s not the OPs. But she can choose to offer to pay for the neighbour to have it taken down. Or not.

Personally I’d get another couple of quotes then approach the neighbour and offer to pay half. We did this with our neighbour who had a whole hedge of Leylandii and they bit our hand off.

We also planted a new beech hedge on our side of the boundary and put up a fence at the section next to the house where there wasn’t enough space for a hedge.

However that’s a 5 years solution and the Op wants to sell her house this year I think.

Love it, would want it as it gives some privacy. Almost cried when previous NDN cut down a beautiful pine that was home for the birds and whatever else living in it. Instead of looking at a lovely tree with birdsong, there was all the ugly brick bare walls and no song.

It's definitely a deal breaker for me. I wouldn't even view the house if the online pictures showed it. We have a few huge trees just over the fence at the bottom of our garden. Unfortunately they have TPOs on them and the council won't even allow slight lopping/cutting back etc. Small branches and other debris is constantly falling off into our garden, as do huge amounts of leaves every Autumn. Nothing grows at that end of the garden due to the shade. It's the only thing we regret about moving to our house - if we'd realised how much they shade and the sheer amount of debris, we'd never have bought it.

I’d also trim that hedge on the right , it will give you more space and light. That’s an easy DIY job.

The photo is a bit misleading because I just wanted to show the leylandii - on the right at the end is a laurel, then a choisya, escallonia, a silver birch and a magnolia. It does all look like one hedge in the photo, I agree. The sliver birch and magnolia were reduced last autumn and look amazing at the moment.

Whereabouts are you OP, I can recommend a fantastic tree surgeon in Surrey/Hampshire.

what about the one to the left by the white outbuilding?

That outbuilding is my kitchen (Victorian house)

And believe it or not, that’s the tree in my NDN but one’s garden. It’s also huge and is the one that keeps my garden in the shade in the morning.

I’ll PM you, jasmine

Agree with Counterpane above in getting an estimate from your local Council. I believe that 3 trees makes a hedge and there is some legislation about the removal of leylandii hedges that could work in your favour. Unhelpfully I don't have chapter and verse.

I've just sent you a message.