Need Arborist Opinion on Sugar Maple

[njtuna]

a while back (nov/dec 07) i posted about a sugar maple with a guy wire bolted into it. i contacted the utility, and they directed me to the phone company, which said that it belonged to them. after months of trying, i finally got in touch with the claims department. they dispatched the head line man, who said in his opinion the guy wire and bolt did not cause the demise of the tree. i got an estimate for removal of the tree and stump grinding for $1500, which i sent to the claims people. they just called back and told me what the line man said, and also told me if i could get an arborist to look at it and say that the guy wire and bolt did cause injury to this tree, that they would then pay for the removal. i am posting some pictures and would appreciate some feedback. the tree does not belong to the town- they came out to measure it. also, how can i find a certified arborist, and what should it cost for a visit? i have more pictures if needed. this tree has shed some large branches this past winter, and also sheds smaller pieces f there are striong winds. i am in northern NJ. thanks

 

[corndogg]

So it looks like the utility company guyed their pole to the tree? I've never seen this before. Anyway the attachment point visible in the third picture looks just like the way an arborist would install a cable in a tree to prevent failure. This is a common condoned practice and would not cause the tree to die. I'd say the bid for 1500 to remove and grind is dirt cheap. If the tree is not dead yet find an arborist at www.isa-arbor.com and see if it can be saved.

 

[njtuna]

that is what happened. the phone company attached the telephone across the street to my tree. not recently though. i figured the least they could do for using my tree like that would be to take it down, or pay for part of it. thanks

 

[Ed Roland]

if i could get an arborist to look at it and say that the guy wire and bolt did cause injury to this tree, that they would then pay for the removal.

Well sir, you will have absolutely no problem getting a certified arborist to state that the guy did "injury" to the tree. You can not drill a hole into a tree without injuring. Your problem will be getting the same arborist to claim it caused mortality, which is unlikely.

Tree death is seldom caused from one single issue but more likely from several stresses that have accumulated over time begin the mortality spiral. Salt spray, various insects, fungal disorders, root disturbance, etc.

$1500 gone with stump ground is a good deal.

 

[kennertree]

I agree with what everyone else has said. $1500 for that tree is very cheap. If you go with this quote, and have the tree removed just make sure they have insurance.

 

[Dadatwins]

Well sir, you will have absolutely no problem getting a certified arborist to state that the guy did "injury" to the tree. You can not drill a hole into a tree without injuring. Your problem will be getting the same arborist to claim it caused mortality, which is unlikely.

Tree death is seldom caused from one single issue but more likely from several stresses that have accumulated over time begin the mortality spiral. Salt spray, various insects, fungal disorders, root disturbance, etc.

$1500 gone with stump ground is a good deal.

agreed, also the price seems too cheap and I would make sure the company was legit before starting the job.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Is the tree near the power lines (the ones at the top of the pole)?
If so, the power company should take it down to the height of the wire for free. Not because they killed it, but because they don't want to kill an unexperienced arborist.

 

[njtuna]

the power lines are across the street. no worries there. and the tree service is reputable, and insured. he did some work on some other trees for me a little over 2 years ago before we moved in. had another tree service quote me $2000 for removal and grinding of this sugar maple. if i can get an arborist to claim that the guy wire caused injury to the tree and hastened its demise, i may have a case for at least partial remuneration. thanks for eneryone's input.

 

[Dadatwins]

if i can get an arborist to claim that the guy wire caused injury to the tree and hastened its demise, i may have a case for at least partial remuneration. thanks for eneryone's input.

Like woodweasel has said this will be difficult. Cabling trees is a common practice, and drilling a hole in a tree to install a cable is standard. I would never sign off and say by putting a cable in the tree caused it to die. If the tree is in that bad of a condition, get it down and worry about the why it died later. A tree that large falling will cause more damage than $1500. If the finance are the problem get a cost to at least cut the tree down and make it safe worry about the cleanup at a later date or clean it up yourself. JMHO

 

[treeseer]

The tree is shedding large branches. Are they alive or dead? Has the tree ever been pruned?

Just because there is a fastener in the tree does not mean the door is open to claim the utility should pay. If you find an arborist who says so, you have found a ho ho ho. :santa:

 

[M.D. Vaden]

that is what happened. the phone company attached the telephone across the street to my tree. not recently though. i figured the least they could do for using my tree like that would be to take it down, or pay for part of it. thanks

Did you just figure that's the least they could do for you, or the least you could do in this situation?

Or the most you hope they will do.

I'm just curious about that, because the images seem to show a very large tree with what appears to be a small and inconsequential looking piece of hardware.

And somehow, I get the feeling that that not a lot has been supplied to your tree's care from your end.

Have you had it properly pruned over the past years? How much have you invested in it's care? Because the kind of damage being exibited recently in this tree, seems indicative of problems going back years or decades.

If they did offer to pay should an arborist say that they caused the problem, that in itself seems a boldly honest move on their part.

 

[njtuna]

the shed branches are dead. and it has only been my tree for 2 years. i actually wasn't even sure it was my tree until i had the town come measure to see if it was theirs, in november. yes, they said if an arborist gave his/her opinion that the cable caused the tree to die, then they would pay. my backwards thinking is that since the phone company has used the tree as a support for the telephone pole across the street for years without paying rent, maybe they should pay a little for its care. i realize it's a long shot, but i will look for an arborist. ironically, the trees on the other side of the yard that i had pruned by a tree service, were looking great the last two years, until one of the giant norway spruces snapped in half the first weekend in march in a bad windstorm. the sugar maple only shed some smaller branches.