White Poplar

[bagnally]

I have a White Polar tree in my garden. We built a pond and planted it next to it about 4 years ago now. It has grown very fast and stands almost as tall as my house now, which is just your standard 3 bed to give you an idea.

It looks beautiful. I've read some info on this tree but not quite sure what to believe. The first thing I want to ask anyone is, do you know what the sticky sap is that falls from the tree? It's covered the leaves of the tree and covers everything below it too. I stand under it sometimes and can feel the sap fall on me like rain drops. The bees love this sap and so do other insects, any ideas?

I've read things such as, don't plant near buildings, medicinal properties, not native to this country but then native to this country, not good as a fuel (wouldn't burn it anyway), used as coppicing, other things as well. Should I move it further away from my house, (I'd have to cut it down as it's rather large), I'm no good with measurements but at a guess it's about 10 - 15 feet from the house right on top of a pond.

Anything you can tell me will be great.

Bagnally

[MuddyWitch]

Sadly I think your poplar's days are numbered...you need to remove it soon before it causes you problems with your foundations. If you leave it & then try to sell your house you might well find that your prespective buyers are denied a mortgage because of it.

All members of the poplar family are notoriously shallow rooted. If your tree is 10 ft tall its roots are 15-20ft away already & this tree will grow to 60 ft in twenty years! They love damp ground and will suck the moisture out of the area around them. If we have a hot Summer your tree will kill most vegitation around it by taking all the available moisture.

Most trees should be at least 30-50 feet from houses. Amongst the exceptions are flowering cherries which can be planted as close as 15-20 ft. Before planting any tree near boundaries or buildings consider its root profile, (does it have on main tap root & a feeder root web, or does it have anchor roots?) its ultimate height (& how quickly it will get to it) and any other related issues. A good tree surgeon or arborialist will be happy to advise you on these points. A specialist tree nursery should also know about their stock

For the record the drops are probably honeydew from aphids.

MW

[wolfsong]

assuming its the same poplar, the one we get here is used for fruit boxes and other light packaging, and whole groves of them are grown for this purpose, coming to maturity in 20 years, depending on conditions.
They are brilliant bog stabilisers, but partial to high winds once tall. We lost five or more this year due to exceptional wind levels in early spring.
I've not heard of medicinal properties, but they grow very fast, very tall and straight, and can be used for minor construction work.
As for getting it out, you will need a tree surgeon you can trust not to land it on your house, depending on the surrounding area, they will need to take it down in stages.