Salix matsudana

Believe it or not but this is a twisted corkscrew willow that was 10ft tall. Cut it down on advice of friends (twice now) when we moved in because of the potential roots about 6ft from extension and roots in the drain. It's growing back quite vigorously! It's just under 3ft again now. It's a beautiful tree fully grown but should I kill it off once and for all? I don't like the thought, hence severe haircut but I'm worried. Can it be controlled? Advice most definitely sort on this one please!

Oh dear! Looks like I'm on my own with this problem then. 😱

#plantsurgery might help..?? I'm also curious

Tree roots can be very problematic. I think you have choices - remove it completely; remove it and replant much further away from buildings and drains (maybe 20 foot?); or 'bonsai' it by planting it in a (buried) container such as an old cold water tank. Hopefully it would be a while before the tank rotted enough for the roots to break through.

Hi there, thanks for getting back to me on this one. It's a problem that I definitely have to deal with fairly soon I think but I still have questions. Measured properly and the tree is 11ft from the extension wall and its now 5ft.4 tall. "Bonsai" or replanting are not options. If I kill it off, which I think is probably my only option. Will the roots collapse causing the soil to shift? Maybe the roots rotting would be such a gradual process it wouldn't be noticeable? @chrisf and @EEyore thank

You shouldn't have problems with soil collapse when you remove it. Many years ago we had to remove a very old and large willow from my parents garden (its trunk had grown so large it was pushing the garden wall over) and there were no problems with soil levels after. I think the roots decay so slowly that, as you suggest, it is a gradual process.

Thanks Chris for your advice. It's got to go but sometimes it helps to just go over few points. @chrisf much appreciated👍