elder trees

[123bernadett]

i cant afford to have 3 trees cut down and wondered if there is anything i can use to kill them? theyre horrible

[KRUSTY]

It's a sin to destroy perfectly good trees, you're removing good nesting and feeding sites for wild birds etc. But, if you're intent on getting rid of them you could try the old 'tried and tested' method of hammering copper nails into the trunks. This said, if you do succeed in killing them be aware that dead trees have a habit of falling down at some point so make sure there is nothing you value anywhere near where they are sited and warn your neighbours in advance!

[123bernadett]

Thank you for ur help.I aill try it.Ive still got 4 other trees so birds will b ok.

[logman]

Hi bernadett, I had three elder bushes in my garden, which was in an intirely unsuitable place, the self-set seedlings had been allowed to grow up through an existing hedge by a previous owner and the bushes had completely taken over the hedge and causing it to become gappy.

I dont know if you are able to do this but the way I managed to remove them was :- Cut as much of the branches off as possible (as elder is a relativly small tree, this was not too dificult a task) I did this in late summer or autumn, after the birds had nested.

The next job was the easy bit. I was left with three tall stumps about 5-6 ft high, these I just left and kept an eye out for any resprouting, which i then removed imediately. Lack of space meant it was not possible to dig out the roots or sew them down at the base, so i just waited and left them for a year.

By this time I noticed the bark was begining to flake and I realised they were now dead. With a little spade work around the roots and using the tall stumps as leaverage, they came out fairly easily with a good bit of root too,

That was a couple of years ago now and my hedge has now returned to its former glory, providing berries for the birds, and touch wood, no sign of it comming back so far.

If this is not possible for you to do, you may be able to find someone in the small adds to tackle it. Get several qotes, as they tend to vary enormously. Good Luck..

[jake-the-peg]

The copper nail solution is aparently a myth

http://www.wcisa.net/myths.asp

see number 19

[logman]

Nice one jake, I've taken a copy..

[Catso]

Cut a 'ring' all the way around the trunk, through the bark to the solid wood.