hazardous pecan

[priest]

This morning I went to look at a large pecan tree (48" dbh), 60 ft tall that the homeowner is considering having removed because its multiple stems threaten three different houses if it fails. It is only 15 feet from his house, and the large limbs over his roof are over 30" in diameter. So yes, it could do some real damage if it failed.

The tree has a poor structure with included bark at the origin of the codominant trunks and also at other large crotches higher in the tree. There are no actual cracks visible at the surface.

It is a beautiful shade tree and the only one in the backyard, and would be extremely expensive to remove. Bracing may be a reasonable option.

This is an unfortunately common structure for neglected pecans, so I am curious as to others' opinions on the significance of the hazard and possible solutions.

 

[treeseer]

This is an unfortunately common structure for neglected pecans, so I am curious as to others' opinions on the significance of the hazard and possible solutions.

1. A hazard is a serious risk that calls for action. I agree that these tight forks are a serious enough defect to act on. Bracing would not be practical; too much drilling into the trunk. Cabling would certainly be a reasonable action. Removal of such a high-value tree based on speculation would be arborphobic; totally insane.

That's a very healthy-looking pecan considering the abuse done to the roots.

Cable and mulch the tree. If the tips sprawl too much, light reduction may be in order. The most common injury to pecans here in NC is branches breaking in half.

 

[Stumper]

Cable(dynamic cables) and enjoy. Cutting down that big beauty would be a crying shame.

 

[kf_tree]

my bad.........from the title i thought you choked on a nut.

 

[priest]

Thanks for the help. Treeseer, what abuse to the roots are you referring to specifically?

Thanks

 

[treeseer]

Well, "abuse" may have been too strong a word... Maybe the glare in the picture made it look like the lawn was cooked.

The challenges to the root system include buildings and turf competition and compaction from foot and other traffic. Pecans handle all this pretty well--obviously, judging by the pictures--which is one reason that they are such excellent urban trees.

No reason to kill the grass for the trees' sake, except right next to the trunk. What does the owner--and you-- think about cabling?

 

[priest]

I like the idea of cabling and I'm sure he will too because he appreciates the tree and cabling is an affordable option.
Thanks for your advice.

 

[clearance]

My first thought would be, saw it down, r.f.n.. But on second thought that tack will be mocked and ridiculed here. So, if you do cable, brace, whatever this removal then at least educate the owner that that will not be the end of the story. Cables fail from time to time, trees break even with cables in them from time to time. Cables on ski-lifts and logging shows get replaced at certain times because they deteriorate over time. Sooner but hopefully much later someone will have to do the right thing here, optimistically many years down the road before damage or injury occurs.

 

[treeseer]

Sooner but hopefully much later someone will have to do the right thing here, optimistically many years down the road before damage or injury occurs.

Dear Clarence,

Thank you for voicing the hope that removal of the tree may be many years down the road. In the interim there will be many years of shade, windbreak, transpirational cooling, wildlife, noise suppression, air purification, soil improvement, food- making (pecan pie is a delicacy in these here parts ), stormwater control, and a myriad of other benefits to the community of man.

We agree that every tree someday becomes too great an expense or risk to keep around. Please consider that there is an honorable purpose in forestalling that day, so that it is not r.f.n, but m.f.l. The tree owners and stakeholders deserve to reap the benefits that these trees provide for as long as the benefits outweigh the liabilities. That, after all, is what arborists do, and this is www.Arboristsite.com.

Your Brother in Arboriculture,
Treeseer
Love Ya. Mean It. :angel:

 

[priest]

I don't know what r.f.n or m.f.i mean, I can only assume that it is an ancient Hindu term and that you believe we will all be reincarnated into nut-bearing trees.
That's fine by me.

 

[treeseer]

I mistyped; I meant m.f.l.

I wa trying to speak clearance's lingo, with a different dialect.

 

[Ekka]

Hey Treeseer

Clarence is only winding you up mate ... I must admit, I sit back and think it's funny, but the poor guy asking the questions such as the home owner etc might not.

 

[treesurgeon]

a trim and cable job should do fine. its been there this long. probably not going anywhere anyways. just a waste of time to remove. this tree should be the center piece of that part of the yard. landscaping and lights will do wonders.

 

[treeseer]

Clarence is only winding you up mate ... the poor guy asking the questions such as the home owner etc might not.

O yes I know; I'm just winding him down..Does it look like he's getting to me? If so, I still got work to do. yes I know that tree owners and others get bored with the hassling; that's nearly killed this board a few timesss

 

[spacemule]

Whatever happened to that Mario Vaden guy? If I recall, he wanted all information to be unavailable to the public.