Larch?

11 years ago

We just purchased and moved into a new (to us!) house 2 months ago - it was built in the 50s, and has a lot of mature trees on the property, some of which are nearing the end of their lives, or are very poorly located (right up against the house). We have a tree service coming this week to remove several of them. There is a larch(?) against the very front of the house, 3 feet from the foundation, that I think is quite beautiful, but is also probably a hazard. Can anyone tell what type of tree it is, and how much larger we could expect it to get if we don't have it removed?

The exterior house photo was taken in Feb/March, and this tree is located in between the front door and the bay window. I think it's about 20-25 feet tall (over the roof line). The rest of the pictures were taken from inside the bay window. I haven't seen any cones on it. Thanks for any help you can provide!

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Comments (5)

Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
11 years ago
Not a larch but a Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'glauca'). Very nice tree but also becomes very large. If it were me, I would find a way to co-exist as long as possible before removing it. Others would not be as patient.
Mike McGarvey
11 years ago
I have one in my woodshed that was 3 ft diameter at the stump. My Arborist friend cut it down on a job and I went and got the rounds.
They get larger given time and then they don't take snowloads well, sometimes ripping a lot of wood and bark off the trunk when they go down.
Yours is still small and the cost of removing is still relatively small. Wait a few years and it will be much more to take it down.
Google Cedrus atlantica, 'Glauca' and you will see some wide monsters on the grounds of British estates and castles.
The choice is yours.
Mike
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Embothrium
11 years ago
Will have to be pruned annually to be maintained in that spot - which is actually feasible with this kind of tree, if you know how to do it attractively.

The Seattle area (USDA 8) has blue Atlas cedars sometimes more than 126' tall; trunks about 5' in diameter have also been seen here.
stephemt
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thanks so much for the information! Would the root system become a problem at all? Our water and natural gas pipes come into the house right there. The basement is also on that side of the house (the Garage side has slab underneath). If we can leave the tree I am somewhat inclined to, but I don't want to take unnecessary risks... or incur a $10k repair in a few years for something we could have easily avoided.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
conifers are trees ...

and no tree CAUSES problems ...

but they can take advantage of pre existing problems ...

gas pips are not an issue ... they better be intact.. or your house might blow ... trees can not break into intact piping ...

devils advocate.. get rid of it ...

you can buy a nice small one for under 50 bucks ... plant it out in the lawn.. where it belongs ...

prior owner planted it for the size it was at point of purchase.. with no clue.. that as a tree... it would NEVER stop growing ... ever ... [those other two monsters also]

if cut to the ground.. it is dead ... no need to dig it out.. or grind it.. especially with gas lines there...

same with the other two giants up against the house ...

if you have the dudes coming.. have everything done... its much cheaper than calling them back all the time ...

ken