Ways to remove a plant growing on chimney without climbing on roof?

[mart]

After being let down twice by a roofer/builder, I decided to think of some creative ways to remove this 4 year old plant myself without climbing on the roof.

Apparently, if the roots get in to the mortar joints, the plant could ultimately bring the chimney down. Hence, I don't want to leave the problem in abeyance.

The top end of my exention ladder at gutter level is as far a I dare climb. So far I have tried a high powered pump action water gun (from the toy store) filled with sodium chloride weed killer. This failed due to the water jets not reaching the plant.

Plan B is several 2 meter long garden canes taped together end to end with a mother of a sea fishing hook taped on the end of the canes.

New creative suggestions or amendments to my existing ideas would be appreciated.

 

[cumbriasteve]

The roots need properly attacked and treated, weeds and plants have amazing recovery properties, except the ones I try to grow

A fall from gutter height can easily kill or disable, if you are not happy at the extremes of a ladder especially while trying to wave bits of sticks around then keep trying to find someone that is.

 

[Kent]

Shotgun with solid slug load

 

[postie jon]

Hire a big digger. & do it rite no more weeds .

 

[mart]

Hire a big digger. & do it rite no more weeds .

 

[MCKDAVID]

weedkiller roundup or such like at the roots, cut the main branches off at the root, and when it's died and withered / dried it should pull off easier. no need to go on roof.

 

[mart]

weedkiller roundup or such like at the roots, cut the main branches off at the root, and when it's died and withered / dried it should pull off easier. no need to go on roof.

How would the weedkiller be applied to the roots & the main branches be cut without going on to the roof?

 

[Woody.v8]

You could do with one of these

 

[MCKDAVID]

I presumed that the plant grew out of the ground and has grown up the side of the chimney. Perhaps wrongly...

 

[waddycall]

Sounds like you need a drone

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Just hire a tower scaffold and cat ladder for the day. Do it properly and safely.

 

[ratherbewindsurfing]

Remove some tiles or slates from inside the loft to create an access adjacent to the chimney, then use a ladder through the access hole to get at the chimney.
It's a bit fiddly putting the tiles and battens back from the inside but it is possible

 

[postie jon]

You could do with one of these
View attachment 115224

you just created problem no. 2 . wot to do with the plant matter that comes out the other end!

 

[tlovatt]

Best idea - send the wife up on the roof?
Alternatively if you are not happy on the roof (and I do not blame you, they are a hazardous place to go) you need to hire someone to go on the roof and do the job properly including re-pointing the damage as required.

But to give people a clue, how far is it from the ladder to the chimney (distance and elevation)

 

[tommullin]

sodium chloride weed killer? surely theres something stronger on the market? roundup works well, you can get concentrated stuff too and make it as strong as you need. I don't know how good it is for mortar, but I bet salt isn't good either.

i'd try a better week killer first - you've already got a water pistol!

 

[magnet]

A long pole with a plumbers superfire gas blowlamp attached............ incinerate the bu--er

 

[brightspark]

it never ceases to amaze me some of the stupid suggestions that come up on here

 

[Woody.v8]

you just created problem no. 2 . wot to do with the plant matter that comes out the other end!

You don't need a ladder to shift it so it's all good

 

[Migmac]

How would the weedkiller be applied to the roots & the main branches be cut without going on to the roof?

You can inject weed killer into the stem and it should kill the plant.

 

[brightspark]

rod hull springs to mind https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/mar/18/2