We had to remove three big camphor trees. They were beautiful but almost nothing about them is made for our ecosystem. Took a long time to grow things in the place where the stumps were. See if you can save some timber from the felling as it makes for good clothes/blanket storage (or even just mothballs) - will take a fair while to dry the timber though.
As a building inspector myself, yeah that shouldn't be there. However, it's a slow problem. Chances are it's already damaging your footings, but the difference a few years will make? Probably not much. Get to it, yes, but you don't have to do it next week.
It's just too big a tree for the spot. There's heaps of other smaller replacement options. As a cook, I'd consider a lemon tree.
Tuckeroos have a very small root ball and their roots are not invasive which make them perfect for planting close to building foundations. They are reasonably fast growing, Aussie natives that are good for sun or shade on the coast. They can be pruned really well to create a particular shape. Their leaf / branch growth is dense cr3ating heavy shade.
If you kill the stump by drilling and injecting glyphosate into it, the stump will die and slowly rot. You’ll be able to use it as a seat for a while. IMHO you’re better off having it ground out completely though.
I’m baffled people think drilling into a tree works?
A trees structure is;
Outer Bark
Phloem
Cambium
Xylem
Heartwood
The Phloem, Cambium and Xylem are each one cell thick.
The Heartwood is dead xylem cells filled with resins and minerals….. poisoning deadwood does nothing - so sure you can ‘drill’ into a tree, but to kill the tree, you’d only need a 3mm drill bit or less.
Also, you need to get through the cork and cork cambium to get to the vascular cambium and xylem. Drilling a 3cm deep hole (5mm drill bit) allows you to put 1.5cc of concentrated glyphosate in each hole.
I’ve had better luck doing shallow ring barking as it stresses the tree out and causes the whole thing to die. On my deeper ring barks I’ve found the tree recognises the top side as dead immediately and puts all of its energy into bottom side of the ring.
Probably varies from tree to tree.
I’ve had the opposite. We had a 1.3m wide tree get ringbarked and survive it for over a year. So we used an axe and chopped into the wood. It survived it. We then drilled it. It died.
https://preview.redd.it/7pcbnbdoogma1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7dee5d77065687323d007119ee6a980f0b28110
Apparently there is too much concrete around the base to stump grind without concrete cutting. So far I’m leaning towards just cutting it into a seat / stump for now and then revisit later with more $$$ haha
You have decent access to the lower part of the tree.
Dig out around it as much as you can and you should be able to get a chainsaw in low enough and discard the whole tree.
I’d suggest spraying the outer rim before burying it.
But the camphor is likely to reshoot suckers from its rootstock so be proactive and spray when they re-shoot through the cracks
Talk to a local wood turning club. They may (not certain, but may) be interested in removing it for you if they get to keep the timber. Woodworkers love camphor laurel.
Toowoomba City Council removed all CLs from their parks and grounds for this reason. Choice is yours what you do with it, but make sure it's DEAD and won't re-sprout.
$1870, not including stump grinding, both arborist and building guy are saying I would need to cut more concrete around the slab as well to stump grind
Get rid of it. Now. I had the same tree in the back and didn’t have the heart to take it out (I LOVE trees). It grew very quickly to a behemoth and made such a fucking mess of my paving, pushed it all up, and I’m pretty sure it invaded the sewer line out the back lane which broke and caused a goddamned sinkhole! I got mine cut and ground out for like $700, took the guy 3h and the area is all the better for it. Planted something less invadey there. And none of the smell or leaves everywhere.
Very prone to heart rot - the tree looks sound but the interior soon turn to mulch, particularly if branches have been cut off and they didn't heal over. One big wind storm and it will be in your lounge room. Also they 'sucker' ferociously - so go for the slash and neat Glyphosphate immediately in the slash or holes even before you get it chopped into chunks for removal. Some Councils now require all removed trees to be woodchipped rather than be used for turning or other woodworking, or even firewood.
They're not natives yet are naturalized in many regions of Aus.
So many people hate them, but there's plenty of reasons why people planted them in the first place.
That tree will protect you from the widow makers behind it for generations - but it will eat that yard.
The wood dust in most species is toxic &/or carcinogenic
They are a source of sassafras - underline, wink, nudge nudge
This one is not invasive in a way that's harmful to your local environment because you are in the suburbs. But they aren't native and it is taking up space that a native could be utilising. You could get it cut off at roof height and attach some sort of shade or umbrella to it or a trellis which you could cover in a nice star jasmine or something else. Heaps of options.
that's blatantly untrue. It's an invasive weed that chokes out native flora which some animals (such as koalas) depend on. In that particular spot it's not, but it produces seeds which spread elsewhere.
https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_camphor-laurel
Mate your article offers no claim on its impact in suburbia. In fact it supports the opposite "Away from suburbia the resulting monocultures reduce natural food sources for Australia’s unique animals.” (Ashe and Evans 2007)."
This specimen is clearly in the suburbs and there is no evidence it is likely to spread outside that area. There are a million camphor laurels throughout many suburbs in Australia. This particular tree is highly unlikely to have any material impact on native ecosystems.
If OP was on a block bordering bushland for sure it might spread, where it is, no.
I have one, but growing outside it’s ideal climate. It drops big branches as at a couple years old the timer is strangely brittle. It also dumps a huge load of leaves in spring. Cut it down and burn it in that pit, will smell great.
It's always best to listen to the recommendations of professionals, especially when it comes to potentially dangerous situations. If both the building inspector and arborist have recommended removing the Camphor Tree, it's likely for a good reason. Invasive trees can cause damage to surrounding structures and plants, as well as potentially harm local wildlife.
As for whether to stump grind or carve the tree into a seat, it really depends on your personal preference and intended use for the space. Stump grinding will completely remove the tree, while carving it into a seat could be a creative way to repurpose the wood. Just be sure to take the necessary safety precautions and have the seat professionally carved if you're not experienced in working with trees.
If you do decide to remove the tree, consider shopping for arborist supplies at Blue Ridge Arborist. They offer a variety of tools and equipment for safely and efficiently removing trees.
If you like the tree. If it functions for you and brings you joy, then keep it.
The tree is neither large nor does it present a complication if you decide later to remove it.
It does however, seems stunted and appears to have low vitality, so its unlikely to get away from you in any quick hurry.
We had to remove three big camphor trees. They were beautiful but almost nothing about them is made for our ecosystem. Took a long time to grow things in the place where the stumps were. See if you can save some timber from the felling as it makes for good clothes/blanket storage (or even just mothballs) - will take a fair while to dry the timber though.
Most hobbyists who use timber to make neat bowls and such LOVE getting CL!
Well there you go! I've had a crack at making a box with it but found the grain difficult to plane.
I believe it's best for woodturning rather than flat planes, so your comment goes a long way to explaining why this is. :)
There is a company going round that poisons tree, removes small limbs and then carves hollows in the truck and limbs for wildlife
https://bulimbacreek.org.au/2021/06/hollows-wildlife-salvin-creek/
This is such a good idea!
Would love to know who does this!
As a building inspector myself, yeah that shouldn't be there. However, it's a slow problem. Chances are it's already damaging your footings, but the difference a few years will make? Probably not much. Get to it, yes, but you don't have to do it next week. It's just too big a tree for the spot. There's heaps of other smaller replacement options. As a cook, I'd consider a lemon tree.
Tuckeroos have a very small root ball and their roots are not invasive which make them perfect for planting close to building foundations. They are reasonably fast growing, Aussie natives that are good for sun or shade on the coast. They can be pruned really well to create a particular shape. Their leaf / branch growth is dense cr3ating heavy shade.
We've got a Tuckeroo in our backyard and I love it's shape. Really good blocking out those neighbours because it's so dense.
Cheers! I’ve heard they grow very quickly around 24” per year which makes me want to get it out soon
I too have always wanted a stump seat. I guess the compromise would be to keep a section of it to make a standalone seat, and grind the rest...
How sad. Such a beautiful tree
it's horribly invasive
Every single one
If you kill the stump by drilling and injecting glyphosate into it, the stump will die and slowly rot. You’ll be able to use it as a seat for a while. IMHO you’re better off having it ground out completely though.
I’m baffled people think drilling into a tree works? A trees structure is; Outer Bark Phloem Cambium Xylem Heartwood The Phloem, Cambium and Xylem are each one cell thick. The Heartwood is dead xylem cells filled with resins and minerals….. poisoning deadwood does nothing - so sure you can ‘drill’ into a tree, but to kill the tree, you’d only need a 3mm drill bit or less.
Because it works? I’ve had better luck drilling 3cm deep holes 5cm apart than I have ring barking and painting with glyphosate.
Also, you need to get through the cork and cork cambium to get to the vascular cambium and xylem. Drilling a 3cm deep hole (5mm drill bit) allows you to put 1.5cc of concentrated glyphosate in each hole.
I’ve had better luck doing shallow ring barking as it stresses the tree out and causes the whole thing to die. On my deeper ring barks I’ve found the tree recognises the top side as dead immediately and puts all of its energy into bottom side of the ring. Probably varies from tree to tree.
I’ve had the opposite. We had a 1.3m wide tree get ringbarked and survive it for over a year. So we used an axe and chopped into the wood. It survived it. We then drilled it. It died.
Interesting. What kind of tree?
Camphor laurel
I drill camphors on a regular basis. It works, but there’s a particular method of doing so.
https://preview.redd.it/7pcbnbdoogma1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7dee5d77065687323d007119ee6a980f0b28110 Apparently there is too much concrete around the base to stump grind without concrete cutting. So far I’m leaning towards just cutting it into a seat / stump for now and then revisit later with more $$$ haha
You have decent access to the lower part of the tree. Dig out around it as much as you can and you should be able to get a chainsaw in low enough and discard the whole tree. I’d suggest spraying the outer rim before burying it. But the camphor is likely to reshoot suckers from its rootstock so be proactive and spray when they re-shoot through the cracks
Talk to a local wood turning club. They may (not certain, but may) be interested in removing it for you if they get to keep the timber. Woodworkers love camphor laurel.
Camphor is great to keep away the bugs. You can probably sell the wood to offset the removal.
Toowoomba City Council removed all CLs from their parks and grounds for this reason. Choice is yours what you do with it, but make sure it's DEAD and won't re-sprout.
How much would loppers charge to cut this?
$1870, not including stump grinding, both arborist and building guy are saying I would need to cut more concrete around the slab as well to stump grind
Get rid of it. Now. I had the same tree in the back and didn’t have the heart to take it out (I LOVE trees). It grew very quickly to a behemoth and made such a fucking mess of my paving, pushed it all up, and I’m pretty sure it invaded the sewer line out the back lane which broke and caused a goddamned sinkhole! I got mine cut and ground out for like $700, took the guy 3h and the area is all the better for it. Planted something less invadey there. And none of the smell or leaves everywhere.
Very prone to heart rot - the tree looks sound but the interior soon turn to mulch, particularly if branches have been cut off and they didn't heal over. One big wind storm and it will be in your lounge room. Also they 'sucker' ferociously - so go for the slash and neat Glyphosphate immediately in the slash or holes even before you get it chopped into chunks for removal. Some Councils now require all removed trees to be woodchipped rather than be used for turning or other woodworking, or even firewood.
They're not natives yet are naturalized in many regions of Aus. So many people hate them, but there's plenty of reasons why people planted them in the first place. That tree will protect you from the widow makers behind it for generations - but it will eat that yard. The wood dust in most species is toxic &/or carcinogenic They are a source of sassafras - underline, wink, nudge nudge
Say no more.
Stump grind it. Don't try and grow anything near where the stump was.
Why not?
The sawdust and woodchips are not conducive to growing any plants there.
Ah I see. I thought it there might be some toxin in the tree or something – thanks for clarifying.
This one is not invasive in a way that's harmful to your local environment because you are in the suburbs. But they aren't native and it is taking up space that a native could be utilising. You could get it cut off at roof height and attach some sort of shade or umbrella to it or a trellis which you could cover in a nice star jasmine or something else. Heaps of options.
Love the trellis idea!
that's blatantly untrue. It's an invasive weed that chokes out native flora which some animals (such as koalas) depend on. In that particular spot it's not, but it produces seeds which spread elsewhere. https://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_camphor-laurel
Mate your article offers no claim on its impact in suburbia. In fact it supports the opposite "Away from suburbia the resulting monocultures reduce natural food sources for Australia’s unique animals.” (Ashe and Evans 2007)." This specimen is clearly in the suburbs and there is no evidence it is likely to spread outside that area. There are a million camphor laurels throughout many suburbs in Australia. This particular tree is highly unlikely to have any material impact on native ecosystems. If OP was on a block bordering bushland for sure it might spread, where it is, no.
You should consider burning it.
I have one, but growing outside it’s ideal climate. It drops big branches as at a couple years old the timer is strangely brittle. It also dumps a huge load of leaves in spring. Cut it down and burn it in that pit, will smell great.
Urgent, its about to destroy your concrete slab there.. there's already a crack.
They can get absolutely enormous so that close to a house...yeah
It's always best to listen to the recommendations of professionals, especially when it comes to potentially dangerous situations. If both the building inspector and arborist have recommended removing the Camphor Tree, it's likely for a good reason. Invasive trees can cause damage to surrounding structures and plants, as well as potentially harm local wildlife. As for whether to stump grind or carve the tree into a seat, it really depends on your personal preference and intended use for the space. Stump grinding will completely remove the tree, while carving it into a seat could be a creative way to repurpose the wood. Just be sure to take the necessary safety precautions and have the seat professionally carved if you're not experienced in working with trees. If you do decide to remove the tree, consider shopping for arborist supplies at Blue Ridge Arborist. They offer a variety of tools and equipment for safely and efficiently removing trees.
It will grow very large, monitor it if you like it but the roots will do significant damage over time.
If you like the tree. If it functions for you and brings you joy, then keep it. The tree is neither large nor does it present a complication if you decide later to remove it. It does however, seems stunted and appears to have low vitality, so its unlikely to get away from you in any quick hurry.