Tree Advice

[krux]

Hey everyone!

I need your expertise if I need to get rid of my tree or if it's fine.

15+ years ago, the old home owner had a bon fire in the backyard and it got close to the tree and caused damage. The reason I know is because of my neighbor had to call the fire department.

A couple years back, I had a tree arborist look at the tree. At that time they said fill it with some great stuff and call it a day as the bark wrapped around the damage years ago to heal itself.

Online I read that if 60% of the tree is solid, you are fine but anything more should be cut down (true?). You will notice in the pictures that a woodpecker has created some holes only to the dead spots. Not sure what to do here. Any advice?

The damage on the tree measures roughly 13" wide and goes in 8". The trunk is 128" around and 36" deep.

What's your advice. I hate to cut down a tree that still has some life in it.

https://i.imgur.com/PEah3Ji.jpg
https://imgur.com/Z3FnoyB
https://imgur.com/5e4itlC
https://i.imgur.com/T0dHjUR.jpg

 

[p00p]

what is the root of the reasoning for entertaining its removal?

 

[krux]

what is the root of the reasoning for entertaining its removal?

I'd only remove if there is a major safety concern.

The tree still blooms like normal. No dead spots on the branches.

 

[p00p]

I'd consult with someone from your local public service department. if they cannot give you their guidance, they should be able to direct you to someone that can.

 

[My Old Tools]

Sounds like a pretty minor scar on that size tree. As long as it doesn't look like its declining, leave it alone. You won't grow another one that big in two lifetimes.

 

[Don1357]

It depends on the tree. Black locust? The thing can die and the dead trunk stand there a hundred years. Cottonwood? It would fall before it dies.

Speaking of cottonwood an arborist here learned the hard way that they get hollow and full of water under pressure. Her tried to get a core off one just to get sprayed in the face with stagnated water.

 

[StreetGLi]

If the damage was done 15 years ago and you don't see any signs of struggle in the canopy, let it be. It seems to have healed fine. There is quite a bit of circumference that is unaffected (the tree's vasculature is just below the bark) so there is alot of space for it to compensate.

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[PCustoms]

I'd plan to take that down. That looks like it extends up to the crotch at the top of the frame, and is full of rot.

If it's an important tree to you you'll need to find a good arborist with experience in saving old, damaged trees.

 

[Bent Handle]

I’d be nervous of the split stem rotting trunk myself. If it were me I’d find the best arborist in the area and have them look at it. There are a lot of stresses during a wind storm and I’ve seen a lot of trees get split right at that crotch and rot doesn’t help. Around me I’ve seen them cable the canopy together so they don’t blow apart in the wind.

 

[orangeblood]

If the damage was done 15 years ago and you don't see any signs of struggle in the canopy, let it be.

what he said.

some trees can take a long time to die, but they show signs along the way

 

[krux]

Thanks everyone for your input.

It seems more are leaning towards leaving it than tearing it down. "If" I kept it, would you fill the holes? The ones that are cautious around it made good points as well

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[Don1357]

If the damage was done 15 years ago and you don't see any signs of struggle in the canopy, let it be. It seems to have healed fine. There is quite a bit of circumference that is unaffected (the tree's vasculature is just below the bark) so there is alot of space for it to compensate.

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Not necessarily so. If there is rot and damage to the heart wood the tree can still be perfectly healthy with plenty of flow, but without enough structural support to withstand the net wind storm.

There's a reason why doctors dio more than just look at how healthy somebody looks in order to determine risks. If the op wants to know her may need to call the arborist back

 

[Docbentley]

That tree needs to come down. Good justification to buy a new chainsaw!

 

[greg13]

Have a CERTIFIED Arborist check it and go with their findings.

 

[NUTTSGT]

UI'd plan to take that down. That looks like it extends up to the crotch at the top of the frame, and is full of rot.

If it's an important tree to you you'll need to find a good arborist with experience in saving old, damaged trees.

If that's one of the pictures I can't see from imgur, I'd consider taking it down.

That tree is only going to get worse and split. Trees like that come down when you have days of rain followed high winds.

 

[bczygan]

Hey everyone!

I need your expertise if I need to get rid of my tree or if it's fine.

15+ years ago, the old home owner had a bon fire in the backyard and it got close to the tree and caused damage. The reason I know is because of my neighbor had to call the fire department.

A couple years back, I had a tree arborist look at the tree. At that time they said fill it with some great stuff and call it a day as the bark wrapped around the damage years ago to heal itself.

Online I read that if 60% of the tree is solid, you are fine but anything more should be cut down (true?). You will notice in the pictures that a woodpecker has created some holes only to the dead spots. Not sure what to do here. Any advice?

The damage on the tree measures roughly 13" wide and goes in 8". The trunk is 128" around and 36" deep.

What's your advice. I hate to cut down a tree that still has some life in it.

https://imgur.com/PEah3Ji.jpg
https://imgur.com/Z3FnoyB
https://imgur.com/5e4itlC
https://imgur.com/T0dHjUR.jpg

https://imgur.com/PEah3Ji.jpg
https://imgur.com/Z3FnoyB
https://imgur.com/5e4itlC
https://imgur.com/T0dHjUR.jpg

Keep it

Bill

 

[bczygan]

Delete

 

[steve308]

Firewood. Plant a new tree.

 

[stingry]

If that's one of the pictures I can't see from imgur, I'd consider taking it down.

That tree is only going to get worse and split. Trees like that come down when you have days of rain followed high winds.

I agree!
I can’t view Imgur Picts either but if the picture in post #8 is the tree in question, it needs to come down. It’s not a well structured tree, having two trunks instead of one main leader.

 

[ant.foste]

If the right side of that tree can reach any structure you care about, take it down or have a pro cable it. The right side is going to "connect the rot" at some point in the not near future and split off.

What area of the country is this tree? Ice storm land? Hurricanes? Tornado alley?

How healthy does the tree appear in late spring?
What color is the canopy in the last two months of the growing season before it drops leaves for the winter?

 

[krux]

If the right side of that tree can reach any structure you care about, take it down or have a pro cable it. The right side is going to "connect the rot" at some point in the not near future and split off.

What area of the country is this tree? Ice storm land? Hurricanes? Tornado alley?

How healthy does the tree appear in late spring?
What color is the canopy in the last two months of the growing season before it drops leaves for the winter?

Its in Minnesota. So nothing crazy for weather.

The tree blooms in the spring with no problem. Still makes helicopters like no tomorrow. No bark coming off and no dead branches. It's one of the first trees to bloom and drops leaves like all the other trees.

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[58Yeoman]

I had a tree that was much larger than that, that split into two branches about 12' up. It was cracked, so I wrapped a chain around it and called the local 'climber' arborist. He wouldn't climb the tree for fear that it would split while he was up there. I had a tree service cut it down.

I also had a nice soft maple tree in the front yard that split into three trunks about 8' high. One wind storm took one of the 3 down, then I saw that it had split all three ways. That whole tree came down also.

 

[firebirdparts]

I am in the "take it down" camp. Grew up in the woods, I'm from a logging family, but not an arborist. That looks pretty bad to me.

 

[Plump]

Have a CERTIFIED Arborist check it and go with their findings.

I have to second this sentiment. No CERTIFIED arborist would tell you to put Great Stuff into a tree cavity (I work with these guys and am in the business myself). Just like no one can tell you how long it will stay up. If it's sending out an abundance of "helicopters", that's the trees way of saying I'm not doing well.

Hazard tree identification is part science, part intuition and never completely accurate. US Forest Service has many brochures and online information to help you decide. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3799993.pdf)

Me, I'm cutting it down ASAP being so close the GARAGE!!!

Good luck.

 

[krux]

A guy is coming out to give me a quote.

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[krux]

Update: Tree came down on Friday. Total cost was $2700 due to a crane needed. Took about 3 hours total.

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[R6 Racer]

I love trees on a property. I also take down a lot of them. I'm not an arborist or a professional logger, but I vote to have it removed by a pro. Then go buy a fair sized new tree & plant it or have it planted for you.
That tree (in post 8) is dieing! How soon it falls down is only a guess. Some can guess better than others but its still a guess! Why chance it? You can have a tree planted there that will give you benefits almost right away. It was said earlier that it would take lifetimes to re grow one that size. Their right, but a much smaller tree will still be nice & way safer.

Steve

 

[ZRX61]

Update: Tree came down on Friday. Total cost was $2700 due to a crane needed. Took about 3 hours total.

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I'm in the wrong damn business.

 

[FredWanaker]

co-dependant trunks. It will eventually split. Time to go if it is in the way.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Year old thread brought back by a now banned spammer

 

[nadogail]

When I was just a kid in school, (about 1949 or 50) I remember a tree in the play ground that had concrete in the trunk. I guess concrete was used before Great Stuff,

 

[toolmiser]

Was there any mention of the variety of tree? You mentioned "helicopters" and that made me think maybe it was a silver maple. They aren't the sturdiest tree, and can split. Do a little research into what it is, and their lifespan. It might help with your decision.