Large cedar removal.

[beastmaster]

Having never taken down a large incense cedar(calocedrus decurrens)before I was wondering if some one who has some experience with this sp. of tree could give some advice. The tree is dead. It's about 110ft and a dbh of 40in. Its on a slope and the low side roots are pretty exposed. I climbed it Thursday removing the limbs, except for the last 15 or 20 feet. The limbs at the top are white and I assume the top must of died well before rest of the tree. I finish limbing just ahead of a in coming storm that suppose to drop a few feet of snow. Originally we were going to fell the whole thing, but being on a steep hillside surrounded by live oaks, it's going to damage a lot of other trees. I have a good little drop zone I can piece it out on, but there lay my concern. I'd have to take a large top because I don't want to be on that old dead wood when their pulling the top over. Rest the tree is pretty sound. I guess I'm asking are they real brittle, or have any unique characteristics I should be concerned with?

 

[clearance]

If its anything like Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata) then it will be fine. I have climbed old growth cedar with dead tops, called grey ghosts. The wood is as solid as dead wood can be because cedars do not rot very quickly at all. But don't climb it, because you never know. Fall a big top. If it damages a couple of other trees, clean them up. If you are not sure of the lean, hang a rope with a pole pruner and get someone to pull it off for you.

 

[TreeTopKid]

I've never worked on the Cedar you mention but have removed dead wood from loads of Cedrus libanii A Richard, and that stuff is rock hard. It's highly prized by furniture makers.

It's the tell tale bug holes, or fungus mats/conks you need to look out for.

 

[tree md]

Any trees behind it that you could tie in to and swing over?

 

[beastmaster]

It's the tell tale bug holes, or fungus mats/conks you need to look out for.[/QUOTE]

It has the bug holes up in the top(woodpecker also). Its not really that hard of a tree. Pretty straight forward really. I just never had a chance to do one before and that makes me a little weary. Its a borderline hazard tree I do pines and firs and feel I'm a good judge of whats what, but you don't see that many dead or dieing cedars out here in San bernadino. It's part of a federal grant job we got to remove dead and dieing trees. mistletoe, and latter fuel. A nice change for me to get out of the city and into some real trees. Thank you all for the input.