Monkey puzzle tree

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Well we're going to do this tree either next week or week after so I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes. So this one has hard, sharp "leaves". Which one is it? I have seen some around here that look more organized with fewer branches, this one is a mad house kinda bushy. I thought it was the chilean pine but as always we call one tree by several names....

Take some pics of it before and after you remove it.....had an HO have me look at his monkey puzzle, what an interesting tree.
 
I am intending on taking pictuers. This is if I don't have to call an aid car.... On the day of the bid I barely touched the outer foliage and wispered a cuss! This is a nasty tree. I'll be back with pictures....
 
Seriously, take a good hand saw, you don't need a chain saw that much until you start chunking it out. Probably drop the whole top with a hand saw. Much quieter and more control. It wont be bad, unless you are a groundie.
Jeff
 
I hate to say it but time is money. Unless your saying it cuts really easy, the limbs are right at the size of being too big to be efficient with a hand saw. I'm all for getting a good work out but the suffering ground guys want it to be over. I'm still looking for some good ideas on how to handle this nasty bugger, for the sake of the guys. :msp_unsure:
 
One mans trash is another mans treasure. Nobody wants anything to do with these trees around here.


And you would be wrong....The wood is prized by craftsmen.

Tree Cycle got in trouble (no permit- the first violation under Seattle's new significant tree ordinance.) when they removed the largest one in town..near 40" dbh. And nearly way more trouble when Peter had Mike lower him into the crown. The first pick weighed about 10k lb, considerably more than Mike was good for at that radius. Lucky for all involved, Mike and his crane stayed rooted to the ground. Had it been me, I would have limbed it and chipped it as it was close to the street. Just wear leather gloves. Dragging the limbs by the tips hurts less. Watch out for your shoulders when in the tree...and all body parts. Meyer Wells was the happy recipient of the logs.

Believe it or no, but Kathy Holzer and her crew once took 14 yards of chips out of one, just deadwooding it....and thinning it....geesh, the last thing I'd wanna do is climb into the canppy of an MP.

I've only ever removed one. It was barely 16" dbh and 40-50 feet tall, but produced 12 yards of chips.
 
Well we're going to do this tree either next week or week after so I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes. So this one has hard, sharp "leaves". Which one is it? I have seen some around here that look more organized with fewer branches, this one is a mad house kinda bushy. I thought it was the chilean pine but as always we call one tree by several names....

There is only one araucaria in Wa State, the species is auracana. Young ones are very symmetric. so are mature MP's, but they become very dense and round headed with age.

There are 19 species within the genus. As always, google is your friend
Araucaria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
 
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And you would be wrong....The wood is prized by craftsmen.

Tree Cycle got in trouble (no permit- the first violation under Seattle's new significant tree ordinance.) when they removed the largest one in town..near 40" dbh. And nearly way more trouble when Peter had Mike lower him into the crown. The first pick weighed about 10k lb, considerably more than Mike was good for at that radius. Lucky for all involved, Mike and his crane stayed rooted to the ground. Had it been me, I would have limbed it and chipped it as it was close to the street. Just wear leather gloves. Dragging the limbs by the tips hurts less. Watch out for your shoulders when in the tree...and all body parts. Meyer Wells was the happy recipient of the logs.

Believe it or no, but Kathy Holzer and her crew once took 14 yards of chips out of one, just deadwooding it....and thinning it....geesh, the last thing I'd wanna do is climb into the canppy of an MP.

I've only ever removed one. It was barely 16" dbh and 40-50 feet tall, but produced 12 yards of chips.

Still say its a trashy tree doesn't do much for me. Everyone in king county knows what the dbh is for removals, some abide but most don't . Not the first word ive heard of guys exceeding it. You got a HTE cert if not you better stick to pruning. Im all for preserving trees but its starting to get ridiculous.
 
It's a Seattle ordinance, not King County, as I reckon you know. That was early on, within months of the new rule. Peter shoulda known about it. Scott Baker was interviewed by the media afterwards. I never did ask Peter what became of the case.

Actually, I've only gotten DPD involved a few times. We did remove an aesculus without a permit that was over 24" by a coupla inches--the threshold for that species...but it was way in the back yard, and a complex one involving a court case due to a cantankerous and unreasonable neighbor. My client caved and just paid the whole bill rather than try to get the neighbors to pay half or all. They loved the tree, though it was way too large for the spot. I'd pruned it in 2007. Tiny work zone, had to lower all but the last 20 feet, which I dropped in rounds onto a postage stamp sized spot as I always try to avoid negative blocking...and because I can....when you grow up, you can too.....lol...

Just funnin' ya......I've no use for the craziness that is AS these days.

Monkey puzzles are not garbage...it just seems that way when they mature.....Till they get over 25 or so in age and 35 in height, they are very attractive. But they surely aren't fun to work on.....I've no complaints that its been well over 8 years since we've even limbed one. I still remember the yard---about 110th near Northgate.
 
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I hate to say it but time is money. Unless your saying it cuts really easy, the limbs are right at the size of being too big to be efficient with a hand saw. I'm all for getting a good work out but the suffering ground guys want it to be over. I'm still looking for some good ideas on how to handle this nasty bugger, for the sake of the guys. :msp_unsure:

I have one of the big silkys and I limb pines and firs and cedars all the time with it if there under 4 in. I blast with that thing. On a monkey puzzle if the branches are under 4 or so inches, you would probable only have to take one or two strokes and they'ed pop.
 
As far as the ground guys go, they should ware good gloves and some thing to protect their arms. I sure hope you don't have a chuck and dive chipper.( smaller branches make excellent back scratcher.)
 
Lucky I'm north of the red line. Still requires a permit though in MC. So RB I'll have more wood than I want how can I get hold of that guy who took the last stuff? I may keep some but would love to see it get used. My friend is a bowl turner and is going to take a good chunk.
 
OP here, I have done the job! I will say RBtree was right about one thing, we had a FULL load of chips... The prickley, sharp, nasties were not that bad. I bought my groung guy some thick welding gloves, we wore the standard Carhart double fronts. I did ware my jacket and chaps in the tree. I had a few branches skid over my shoulder but not bad. I was surprised it was not as bad as I had thought. This all goes to show F/E/A/R stands for False/ Evidence/ Appearing/ Real & Pain is weakness leaving the body! So the next time someone says "it can't be done", tell them to get out of the way so you can finish what they wouldn't start!::thumbsup::
 
I would rather do a Monkey puzzle then a big silk floss tree or Peruvian pepper. They're not that bad.
QUOTE
I was surprised it was not as bad as I had thought. This all goes to show F/E/A/R stands for False/ Evidence/ Appearing/ Real & Pain is weakness leaving the body! So the next time someone says "it can't be done",

I would never steer you wrong brother.
 
Major difference between a bunya bunya and a monkey puzzle, or so I've been told, is the bunya bunya isn't as scracthy and hard, but soft. I'm talking about the green stuff that passes for leaves or needles. Either way you won't have any trouble with it Mike. Be safe.
 

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