Big 100+ year old Oak- can it be saved ?

[davidbradley360]

This tree has been on a family property since my grandfather first bought it back in the 1930's, and according to a family member, it was just as big then, as it is now. I'm 50 years old and remember at age 5 standing under it getting my picture taken. I measured the circumference of the base yesterday, and it is 18-1/2 feet around, or about 6 feet in diameter.

It has been pruned over the years by removing dead branches cutting them back to the trunk. At least 10 were removed over the past 65 years. The tree was always had black ants on it as far back as I could remember, so no doubt they had something to do with the tree's demise.

Recently a windstorm broke off one of the 2 major limbs, and when the limb fell, it stripped the bark down the side of the tree. I read this is a common problem with big oaks.

Nonetheless, this tree is still very much alive, and the limb that fell was covered with acorns. It is at least 100 years old, and maybe closer to 200.

My concern is the inner core is rotted, albeit not to a large diameter of rot. I could have it pruned again by removing the falling limb, and 2 other dead limbs up high in the tree-

or, I could remove the entire tree.

If I just pruned it as mentioned, what are it's chances of staying standing ? I know most likely that's a moot question, but I've seen trees in this condition stay standing for many years afterwards.

Would you cut it down, or prune and leave it ? The tree is very high at least 40-50 feet or more. It towers over the nearby abandoned vacant farmhouse. The limb that fell, did manage to hit the edge of the house, and damage the roof.

It once had a full even round crown and canopy, but as years went by it lost more and more upper limbs. Regardless the tree is still very much alive.

See pictures. Any advice welcome.

 

[davidbradley360]

here's more

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[Tree Pig]

Again this just a quick opinion from the pics provided but its a structurally compromised tree with what appears ALL of its remaining limbs and trunk in the direction of the house. To me the main thing you have to consider when deciding what to do in a situation like this is asking yourself what can it hit if it fails. In this case it looks like it can hit the house or even someone outside in close proximity to the house.

Honor the tree by doing something with the wood and replanting something in its place.

 

[davidbradley360]

and a few more

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[davidbradley360]

Again this just a quick opinion from the pics provided but its a structurally compromised tree with what appears ALL of its remaining limbs and trunk in the direction of the house. To me the main thing you have to consider when deciding what to do in a situation like this is asking yourself what can it hit if it fails. In this case it looks like it can hit the house or even someone outside in close proximity to the house.

Honor the tree by doing something with the wood and replanting something in its place.

thank you for the informative, well thought out reply. Just an FYI, the building behind it in this picture, is the neighbor's tool shed. but yes it is still within striking distance of the house, if it fell in the direction of the damaged trunk area. The remaining crown and canopy, are facing towards the neighbor's shed general direction.

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[Tree Pig]

thank you for the informative, well thought out reply. Just an FYI, the building behind it in this picture, is the neighbor's too shed. but yes it is still within striking distance of the house, if it fell in the direction of the damaged trunk area. The remaining crown and canopy, are facing towards the neighbor's shed general direction.

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Well it just being the shed will decrease the urgency maybe a little but there is still a chance that the tree could fail and damage property or worse hurt someone. With you knowing it is a damaged tree it is possible for your insurance company to then TRY and wash their hands of it saying it was your responsibility to remove it knowing it was damaged. If you want to feel safer see if one of the experienced, honest (someone here you know or get references) tree care people in your area can come take a look.

 

[davidbradley360]

we had it looked at yesterday by a local well experienced tree service with 20 years experience.

the issue is, first the access driveway to the old farmstead must be cleared, where a cluster of 4 trees fell and blocked the road, see below

opening up this driveway would allow him to access the tree with his large bucket truck

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to open up the driveway and remove the fallen limb from the tree, is $200

to then cut down the remaining tree, is another $500

total $700

we can do the driveway clearing and limb removal ourselves, but I would not attempt to drop that big tree without limbing it first with a bucket truck, so it's a contract job

as you can see, the heavy unusual rainfall and warmer than usual weather last fall and late winter, really did a number on the local trees. It took many of them down.

 

[BlackOakTreeServ]

we had it looked at yesterday by a local well experienced tree service with 20 years experience.

the issue is, first the access driveway to the old farmstead must be cleared, where a cluster of 4 trees fell and blocked the road, see below

opening up this driveway would allow him to access the tree with his large bucket truck

View attachment 246078

View attachment 246079


to open up the driveway and remove the fallen limb from the tree, is $200

to then cut down the remaining tree, is another $500

total $700

we can do the driveway clearing and limb removal ourselves, but I would not attempt to drop that big tree without limbing it first with a bucket truck, so it's a contract job

as you can see, the heavy unusual rainfall and warmer than usual weather last fall and late winter, really did a number on the local trees. It took many of them down.

DB, it needs to be cut down, the trunk has been compromised to deem it unsafe....I know its a hard call, been in family for many years, but its structural integrity has been compromised....most of weight leaning toward shed and house, if it goes things will get ugly fast.

$500 to take out a oak with 6ft. trunk is a steal, really?, mabey unless there leaving everything there, cut and run...wow

 

[Tobystihl]

I am afraid the tree needs to come down, that scar will never heal!
What I would suggest is, take the tree down leaving the stump in place and have it carved into a garden seat, this I think would be a fitting memorial to your Grandad. Regards Toby.

 

[davidbradley360]

yes that price is cut up and leave it there, not chipped, and only bucked into sections small enough to facilitate the job of taking it down, and moving it a short distance to pile it- the family will use it for firewood, or perhaps make some outdoor furniture or table tops from the stump wood.

but it's a damned crying shame....

 

[jefflovstrom]

You can't put a price on sentimental value, but that tree needs to go and for $500 you should be jumping for joy.
Jeff

 

[Tree Pig]

What part of PA I would bet there is a local climber on here that would take that down and save you a few dollars. Not a lot of room but I would bet you can do a little better.

 

[jefflovstrom]

What part of PA I would bet there is a local climber on here that would take that down and save you a few dollars. Not a lot of room but I would bet you can do a little better.

He must be a hungry guy.
Jeff

 

[treemandan]

He must be a hungry guy.
Jeff

Dam skippy! The Pig just has an overactive imagination. Dat's a big oak tree ! You know what that is?

 

[Alex D]

DB, it needs to be cut down, the trunk has been compromised to deem it unsafe....I know its a hard call, been in family for many years, but its structural integrity has been compromised....most of weight leaning toward shed and house, if it goes things will get ugly fast.

$500 to take out a oak with 6ft. trunk is a steal, really?, mabey unless there leaving everything there, cut and run...wow

Yeah it is. A job like that here would run over a grand if you found a small company eg an arborist and 2 or 3 groundies. Now if it was a big company like Davys or something thats a several thousand dollar job. But then again there was a guy in California here who had 2 huge cedars cut down and they charged him 1500 or 750 each.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Dam skippy! The Pig just has an overactive imagination. Dat's a big oak tree ! You know what that is?

Yeah, that is some man hour's and for $500, that ain't even one guy all day.
Jeff

 

[Tree Pig]

Yeah, that is some man hour's and for $500, that ain't even one guy all day.
Jeff

Maybe I missed understood but I am pretty sure he priced it to just put it on the ground no chipping and no cutting to length other then just putting it on the ground. $500 does not seem off base for that. Tree is not that big. If the DZ is as big as it looks I would bet 2 - 3 hours tops and your on the road.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Maybe I missed understood but I am pretty sure he priced it to just put it on the ground no chipping and no cutting to length other then just putting it on the ground. $500 does not seem off base for that. Tree is not that big. If the DZ is as big as it looks I would bet 2 - 3 hours tops and your on the road.

Yeah, Maybe I read it different. Still, I don't know the region or market there. If it is just like you say, off the pic's I would be more at $800-$1000, no biggie.
Jeff :msp_wink:

 

[Carburetorless]

Remove all the limbs, and leave 10 to 12 feet of the trunk, and make a tree sculpture out of it, like a bear or something.

 

[formationrx]

...

sculpture out of it, like a bear or something????

thoughtful carb but that tree is rotten in the middle... its a goner...take it out and plant a new tree... imo jeff and pig are right on in this case... id make something out of the wood thats still viable... maybe a hutch or a few chairs (pass them on to ur kids)... that is a bad tear... it looks like whoever worked it did not do a good job... they opened up the middle too much and did not work the outer sail enough... not reducing the sail properly puts a hell of lot of pressure on that mast (real tree guys work the canopy).... and it looks like that tree decided to let you know...