What's this tree(?)

[tallis]

So I have this tree in my back garden... I say tree, I'm pretty sure it's actually at least two trees planted really close together. I think one of them might be an elder, it had what looked like elderberries last year (but not enough to bother collecting :P).

Any ideas?



Tbh I'd like to get rid of it, it's right on the fence boundary and is affecting the fence, plus it blocks out a lot of the sun -- my back garden is South East facing and yet doesn't get as much sun as it should because of this tree and my neighbour's overthrown hedge.

[Guest]

1. a tree
2. elder
3. ivy
4. ivy, elder and a trunk
5. hawthorn I think

If it is hawthorn. The size it is check your deeds that there isn't a preservation order on it if you intend to chop it down.

[MyWifesBrassicas]

totally agree with above, second and last picture is a different tree.
Picture number 2 is and elder

[tallis]

1. a tree
2. elder
3. ivy
4. ivy, elder and a trunk
5. hawthorn I think

If it is hawthorn. The size it is check your deeds that there isn't a preservation order on it if you intend to chop it down.

XD picture #3 does have multiple trunks in it, but the ivy makes it a bit difficult to see!

I should've possibly clarified that I know it's also covered in ivy

[tallis]

totally agree with above, second and last picture is a different tree.
Picture number 2 is and elder

All the pictures are from the same "tree" as in picture #1; I'm glad I'm not going crazy thinking it's (at least) two different trees planted really close together.

[MyWifesBrassicas]

All the pictures are from the same "tree" as in picture #1; I'm glad I'm not going crazy thinking it's (at least) two different trees planted really close together.

I maybe wrong though
But they do look very different, you sometimes get variation in leaf morphology this early in the season

[Guest]

Elder grows easily I had it growing in a crevice of a stump on an ash tree, it certainly made for interesting pruning. Sorry if my post annoyed you in anyway. It was only the last pic that helped id the actual tree but least you know there is lots going on there. The combination is also a fantastic habitat for beasties and wildlife.

[veggiechicken]

The last one does look like hawthorn. Mine's coming into flower now - its also very thorny.
The elders here also have flower buds which are totally different to the hawthorn.
If you've seen the berries they are also very different to hawthorn berries.
I'm not going to guess at what you have as the pictures aren't clear enough for me but the tree in picture one doesn't look like an elder but more like a hawthorn.

[Scarlet]

Hawthorn and elder.
They both can grow from seed - and maybe they weren't planted. I get loads popping up here that self seed, along with ash, hazel, conker and walnut.

To be honest if they are too big now I would just chop them down