Advice/Cypress Removal

[olpace]

I am soon to be spiking 65' up a cypress tree and was wondering how the wood handles and/or how hard they are to climb. Inaccessible by bucket etc.... Top of the tree has died. Some of the lower limbs still have some green on them. The tree is approx... 75' tall.... I was planning on blowing the top 10-15' and then sectioning down..... Being as I have never messed with any cypress I didn't know if this was a very good idea? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kkottemann]

the wood is strong...you will be fine. Check for hollow butt! that is the most important thing.

 

[Mapleman]

yeah what k man said--hollow is bad...take smaller pieces when in doubt

 

[asthesun]

the bark is rather thin, like a cedar. you may have to step pretty hard on the way up or your spikes might slide, taking a strip of bark on the way, like a cedar

 

[olpace]

Just wanted to say thanks to all, I appreciate the input!

 

[Fireaxman]

75 foot cypress sounds like a nice tree. Takes a long time for a low land cypress to reach 75 feet. Any hope for damage mitigation rather than removal?

 

[olpace]

Yes, I feel as if it could be saved, but the owner doesn't want to hear it. His wife just wants it gone. The entire back side of their property is lined with large cypress. At the time being I can't afford to walk away from work.

 

[Fireaxman]

Too bad. But, I understand. You have to satisfy the customer, and it's his tree.

 

[treeseer]

I just deadwooded a baldcypress and the limbs were strong--no rot unless they were long dead.

Are you grinding the stump? It's usually ok by the owner if something is planted in its place.

 

[olpace]

The wife didn't want the stump gone... said she could put a flowerpot on it! :jawdrop: he he I even told em I wouldn't charge anything extra.... Considering the magnitude of their landscaping the stump is just gonna be an eye sore and they will prolly call me back to grind it up. At which point I will have to charge them..... I try to help people when I am able, but a person has to survive in the process.... :greenchainsaw:

 

[treeseer]

you were going to do the stump for free?

someone get this dude to bizniss skool!

Seriously, maybe the wife who hates the tree but likes stumps could be sold on a value added service like carving the butt into something cool; attached.

 

[olpace]

No not necessarily for free I already figured enough money into the equation for me to come out even grinding the stump..... It just looks to the customer as if I am doing it for free.... They feel as if they are getting more for their money.... People have gotten pretty cut throat around here.

 

[olpace]

The carving is pretty cool.....However I don't know how to do that....

 

[ClimbinArbor]

was in a bald cypress today. we have quite a few around here. this one had an owl in the top of it and needless to say he didnt find me sneaking up 50ft and hooting at him funny lol.

watch for rot as said above, take an ax with ya and sound it out. also watch for bad crotches. cypress sometimes have to many limbs coming from one spot on the trunk and they have problems developing collar tissue. just watch for fat spots with no tissue under the limbs.

other than that have fun. i love working in cypress cause most of our trees are broad form. i have 10 70fters along a river here. the bank slopes down 20ft, otherwise theyd only be about 50ft here, we get bad wind in kansas.

 

[olpace]

Alright well I appreciate everyones input and will let you know the outcome... will be doing the job in a couple of weeks!