Need advice re: to cut down a tree or not

[whatcheer]

Hi! We're here in Charlotte and we've got a beautiful nice and tall tulip tree to the side of our house with a smaller willow oak growing right beside it. The willow oak might be 30 ft tall (??). The tulip is tree is quite tall, not sure exactly. Anyway, we do love all trees but I really want to protect the older tulip tree so I'm thinking we should cut down the willow oak before it really starts impinging on the tulip tree. My question is would cutting down the willow oak have any adverse effect on the tulip tree? I'm assuming their root systems are in some sort of a relationship under there, possibly beneficial? Would cutting down the willow oak be a blow to this nutrient gathering system for the tulip tree, or would it actually be beneficial for it (more nutrients for it alone)? Anyway, I'd appreciate any thoughts.

Thank you! Chris

PS Here are a few photos of them

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

I cannot answer your question, but you might give some more information for the knowledgeable guys who will answer you.

How old is the tulip tree and is it healthy? Is the tulip likely to present a danger to your house in a few years? In 10 or 20?

 

[whatcheer]

Yes, the tulip tree seems healthy and of course, you never know, but I don't consider the tulip tree to be a risk to our house.

 

[J D]

I don't think it will make a huge difference either way... just don't stump grind the willow oak if you decide to remove it
I would be far more concerned with the tree in the background leaning over the house, especially if it ever tends to get wet around the base at all

 

[Tobystihl]

The only problem I can see apart from the aforementioned leaning tree, is that if you remove the tulip them you may get subsidence as the roots rot down.

 

[whatcheer]

I don't think it will make a huge difference either way... just don't stump grind the willow oak if you decide to remove it
I would be far more concerned with the tree in the background leaning over the house, especially if it ever tends to get wet around the base at allView attachment 1240891

Thanks! Yes! That one in the background is on our radar.

 

[whatcheer]

The only problem I can see apart from the aforementioned leaning tree, is that if you remove the tulip them you may get subsidence as the roots rot down.

Ah.. never thought about that! Might just have to roll the dice on that one.. Thank you!

 

[ATH]

That tulip doesn't even know the oak is there and won't know its gone. Like @J D said, don't grind the stump. So simple answer is that it won't hurt the tulip to remove the oak.

Is the oak rubbing against the Tulip? If not, I'd let the coexist. That oak is very much suppressed by the tree towering over it, so it will grow relatively slower than an otherwise open grown Willow oak would grow.

 

[whatcheer]

That tulip doesn't even know the oak is there and won't know its gone. Like @J D said, don't grind the stump. So simple answer is that it won't hurt the tulip to remove the oak.

Is the oak rubbing against the Tulip? If not, I'd let the coexist. That oak is very much suppressed by the tree towering over it, so it will grow relatively slower than an otherwise open grown Willow oak would grow.

Hmmm.. okay thanks. Food for thought.. I’m leaning toward cutting it but it’s good to hear that if I don’t get around to doing it (tends to be my MO) it shouldn’t be a big deal.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

I’d remove the poplar and keep the oak. The last poplar I removed looked healthy and was huge like yours. When I was dropped it had a hole the size of a bowling ball in the stump. They’re brittle trees, The tops and branches like to snap out during severe weather. Glad to say that last one I took out was literally the last one on my property. I removed 8 total iirc, all of them were at least 80 tall. My oaks are doing much better with the poplars gone.

 

[whatcheer]

I’d remove the poplar and keep the oak. The last poplar I removed looked healthy and was huge like yours. When I was dropped it had a hole the size of a bowling ball in the stump. They’re brittle trees, The tops and branches like to snap out during severe weather. Glad to say that last one I took out was literally the last one on my property. I removed 8 total iirc, all of them were at least 80 tall. My oaks are doing much better with the poplars gone.

Thanks. Yeah, it's funny they removed a poplar next door as they were clearing land to build a giant house. We weren't happy about that as we loved the quasi-wild area we had there, but that poplar was compromised/hollowed a bit so who knows how much longer it would have had being healthy. I think you make valid points but I do love the poplar, and we have many many willow oaks around here (Charlotte), so I'll probably go with my heart on this one.

 

[ATH]

There are usually external indicators if there is significant decay in a tree. If you are worried about that, have somebody who is a Tree Risk Assessment Qualified arborist have a look. You're going to pay for that visit...but you don't want somebody financially interested in removing the tree to make assessment. Tulip-poplar are not as strong/long-lived as Oak...but that doesn't mean that tree doesn't have 200 more years in it.

 

[whatcheer]

Thanks! Yeah, no signs of decay yet (as far as this layman can tell), but I may at some point pay to get a good opinion on this and a few other trees on the property, just to see from an experts perspective, where we stand. Another 200 years would be nice though!

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Thanks. Yeah, it's funny they removed a poplar next door as they were clearing land to build a giant house. We weren't happy about that as we loved the quasi-wild area we had there,

I had to laugh at that one. You sound a little like my neighbor but she cause all kinds of trouble. She didn’t want me removing anything lol. She’s called the local county several times and lost every time. I had my property surveyed and that pissed then off even more as they “lost” 50’ of what they thought was theirs.

 

[pdqdl]

I'd remove the willow oak. All trees compete with each other, and the willow oak is well known to be a rapidly growing tree that out-competes adjacent trees. Removing the competitor is almost always a benefit to the remaining tree. In addition to crowding the tulip tree, it will never be a great tree due to the crowding imposed by it's much larger neighbor. One of them should go away!

Additional reasons to remove the willow oak:

• From a visual/landscaping perspective, crowded trees like that are not often considered "attractive". Most folks love that tall, stately trunk appearance of the tulip tree, as well.
• That willow oak will be encroaching on your roof throughout its life. Tulip trees have a more vertical shaped profile, and are preferred shade trees. When the lower branches are pruned out by landscaping (or competition from a dense forest), the overall shape becomes a full crown arching over adjacent structures.

• Willow oak: In the red oak family, I believe they have a bit more conical shape when young, maturing to a wider crown shape than the tulip tree. You will be much busier pruning branches on that tree for the next 30 years than you would be with the Tulip tree.
• The expense of removing that tulip tree will be imposing! Furthermore, it will never be cheaper than now, but the tree might very well outlast your lifetime. Some folks fear the big trees more than they cherish them, so this might affect your final judgment.
• Willow oaks are prolific acorn producers. Expect higher grounds maintenance every fall from that tree.

Alternative argument: The tulip trees are not as long living as willow oaks. More than 100 years old and they will start coming down without any help. I don't think you should count on that tree to become a venerated landscape feature for the next five generations. I'd advise a good inspection before making a final decision. I am also concerned about why the right side of the tulip tree appears to be devoid of retained leaves in the upper canopy, when there are plenty remaining on the left side of the canopy. This is often a strong suggestion that there is a health problem in some part of the tree.