The Washingtonia palm, or Mexican Fan palm, is the tallest of the palm trees. (You know, the ones you see in the pictures of Santa Monica in California!)

The trouble is, as you’ll know from reading my blog posts, the bigger the tree, the bigger the roots.

It’s pretty logical, really: a big tall tree is going to need deep, widespread roots to feed it and to keep it stable.

Yes, I know many people aren’t happy that my job is to cut down trees. And, given the choice, we’ll trim the tree if possible.

But most of the trees we have to remove are causing expensive problems for the owner. Most of the time it’s because, many years ago, somebody planted the wrong tree in the wrong location.

And that’s exactly what’s happened here!

This Washingtonia palm was planted too close to a retaining wall and it was only a matter of time before the roots of the tree started to push through the wall.

My team sprang into action. We safely and carefully removed the tree.

If you’ve got problems with the wrong tree in the wrong place, give me a call and I’ll come and give you my advice.