2 maples

[treeman82]

Hey guys, I went to get a better look at 2 maple trees behind a friend's house today. Both have to be removed. They are relatively small trees, but both have structural defects, and there is a bunch of stuff under them. It's a line of trees that runs between a new rock wall, and the power lines. Total area between the lines and the wall is about 10 feet. 1 of the maples has a crack in it which is about 6 feet in length, running from the crotch straight into the ground. The crack has started to open at the top, maybe 2" or so. That tree has 2 leads which are each about 10 - 12 inches in diameter. 1 goes up over the house and some other stuff, the other goes out over the power lines, but I am confident I can jump it over the lines and into a lawn. That is the largest of the trees there, there is an area between the wall and the house which is about 15 feet in width, but there is a propane tank there, and an AC unit. I THINK I might be able to bomb some wood into there, however all the brush has to be rigged out, and most of the top as well. The other maple is much smaller, but is right next to the one with the crack, it has a single lead which goes up over the house, and AC unit, and shed. I had taken a larger lead off of it a couple years ago without any problems, however this new one is above a BIG cavity in comparison to the stem itself.
Now I have climbed trees like this before without many problems, however I never had to rig anything out of them. I am worried that if I try to rig these trees down, they are going to fail and drop me. I thought of putting up a traverse line between 2 other maples, but I would have to go as much as 15 - 20 feet above them to work some of the crowns, and also they would swing me into the lines if I dropped.

Any thoughts???

 

[Treeman14]

Matt, Unless you're a qualified line clearance tree trimmer, you MUST stay away from any tree within 10 feet of the power lines. Call the local utility company. This is a service they provide at no charge to you or your customer. I am qualified and I still call them to do anything near the wires. Why take a chance when this service is available for free?

 

[treeman82]

Thanx Brett, I think that's what I will try to do. I didn't think that they would come and do these 2 trees, because they are both running through a couple of residential properties as opposed to right on the road.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

In Portland, Oregon area, there are lines running between back yards that Portland General Electric - PGE - does the cutting on.

One thing, if the tree is healthy and up over the lines, its not a problem.

If the tree is into the lines, or weak enough to break into the lines, they will likely take it down to at least below the lines.

That leaves most of the work and expence in their hands. If they don't take it all the way out, a tree person like yourself can be hired to take down the remnant of the trunk.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

If power goes by the transmission lines they will do all the work within 10 feet. If it is over the service drop, they will dis/reconnect no charge.

 

[treeman82]

MD, both trees are obviously hazards. The larger tree is split from the crotch, all the way down to the ground. Half goes out over the lines, the other half over my friend's house... that is within 5 feet of the lines. The other one is touching the lines, and has a BIG cavity which is highly visable from the right angle. Most of that one though is going out over my friend's house. He's gonna call Con Ed though and see if they will do it.

 

[dbeck]

Is using a crane out of the realm? When using cranes, you greatly reduce (if not eliminate) the forces placed on the tree itself during rigging.
Another idea would be to run a line trough crotches in the crown to 'tie the crown together', in a sense. The GRCS comes in handy here.
To me, this sounds like a situation that will use all of ones experience. At the same time one will gain some.
just remember, a tree over a friends house is no reason to die-be careful.