How to remove a tree?

[waynefeltham]

as per this pic, I need to remove the magnolia tree.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums....022.jpg

Any ideas?

Cheers


Wayne

[bobhughes]

Magnolia roots don't go deep. That tree doesn't look too big - Why not cut it down and dig up the roots yourself?

If you look for a "tree surgeon" then be wary - most of the so called... (even the ones with apparently good addresses and landline phones) round here, are actually the travelling fraternity.

[daysleeper]

also watch out for "Tree Preservation Orders" that would make it illegal to so much as prune one twig without council permission.

---- You could go in to the council and say "is there a TPO on this tree in my front garden" however you may find that if there is not then there will be by the time you get home.

Much safer to simply ask for the tree preservation order plan for village/ area X. Then being carefull not to let them see where your looking check it out. If its not on the list then chop chop pronto like.

As for a tree surgeon, well if its coming out you don't need for it to survive or look pretty, get a digger and run it over a few times.

[dig dug dan]

You can of course, if you have a tow bar, tie it to your vehicle and give it a good yank once you have dug round it a bit.
A mate of mine would always use the phrase "get a rope round it" to his son. He would do this, and try and pull something out even a jcb would struggle on. If his vehicle didn't like it, he would take a run up and "snatch" the offending article until something would break.Usually his gearbox. It was always ended with the words "what happened there then?!!"

[Stuarty]

Regarding Dans comments on the "rope round it", its a good practice when it works, but make sure you have enough stopping distance when you leap forward, workmate of mine put the van into a wall, silly bugger :p. Although, never seen a gearbox go, but the boss ripped the bumper off his 2 year old pickup, that was fun to watch

[flowjoe]

Reminds me of the time i watched two lads doing the exact same trick with a large tree stump, unfortunately they had left the axe in the top of the stump so when the rope snapped and the stump rapidly went from a 45 degree angle to its orignal position the axe was launched accross the garden nearly taking the head of the lady of the house as she marched down the lawn with a tray full of tea and hobnobs.

[Ian CHP]

If you cut it down before you remove the stump, leave as much trunk as possible, this will then act as a lever to wrench out the roots.
A decent shovel and axe, no more than 45 minutes if that:D
Not wishing to be rude, but I've dug up bigger xmas trees