Oak Trim or Removal with Pics I think

[FSburt]

Hey all here's a series of pics of a Ca Blue Oak that needs some work. It looks ok from a distance but up close it has some structural problems in the main bole. Any thoughts on what should be done. I was thinking a crown thinning and removing as much weight off the damaged side as possible since it is near the house.

 

[FSburt]

Another pic

 

[FSburt]

And another pic

 

[FSburt]

last one

 

[treeclimber165]

Looks like some rather severe decay going on there. Another one that you wish you could have worked on 10 years ago.

 

[FSburt]

Ya not sure what the cause of the damage was but 1st thought was lightning.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Looks like the decay is related to the loss of those two large low limbs. Cambial dieback coalesced and propegated down the trunk.

What does the terminal growth increment look like throughout the crown? Is the tree vigorouse all around? Sevear weight reduction in stressd trees can cause problems.

 

[Stumper]

Advising removal would certainly be a SAFE course. Whether or not to proceed with a reduction and leave the tree if the owner desires is hard to evaluate with out being there to "touch" the tree.

 

[FSburt]

Thanks for the replys fellas.

 

[FSburt]

JPS the tree appears to be in good overall health despite the damage to the bole. Except for some normal dead limbs throughout the crown it is doing fine. Would suggest to the person for a removal but this is the only tree providing any shade on the southwest side of the house. So thats why I think the person would somewhat object to a full removal. PS how do guys display a picture in paint that can be drawn on to show which limbs would get clipped.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

This tree is a hazard.
It has multiple defects, is leaning, and close to a house. Any work done will transfer liability to you.
Cutting away the tree's source of food, the crown, may lighten the load, but will weaken the tree in the long run.
Run, don't walk, away from this one.
Or cut it down.

 

[treeclimber165]

Boy, Mike. You don't pull any punches! But you are absolutely right. I'm usually leery of trimming/ reduction on trees like this because I know that the tree will fail sometime in the future. It might be 10 days or 10 years, but it WILL fail.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Besides the legal issues of a major crown reduction on a hazard tree, there are the physiological issues.
The crown of the tree is what makes it's food. All that food is put to use performing certain functions, one of which is adding new wood. The tree needs this new wood to keep ahead of the decay in the area of the injury.
By doing a crown reduction on a mature tree, the remaining resources will be realocated from trunk wood producton and perhaps setting up other defenses, to replacing the crown. So you are actually making a weaker tree.

 

[rbtree]

I agree with Mike and Brian, pretty much.

However, the tree is vigorously trying to close the gap with lots of very strong wound wood. It's full canopy is another sign of it's health, so pruning may not be all that bad.

If you do prune the tree, I'd sure give them a waiver of liability. Don't know if it would hold up in court, though.

Looks like a good candidate for some drill testing (Resistograph, etc), and complete arborist report by an ASCA member.

 

[murphy4trees]

What about recommending a CA to evaluate the tree for safety?..
Let them drill it first. That's what they are there for. Proceed with removal or pruning based on their evaluation... leaves you smelling like a rose.
God Bless,
Daniel

 

[FSburt]

Sounds like they are considering a full removal on this tree after talking ot over with them. I'll send pics of the job in progress when it happens.

 

[treeman82]

Crane job?

 

[FSburt]

Treeman I will have to wait a while to do this one the client had some last minute bills come in and cna't afford to have it done right now. As far as using a crane it will not be needed. The tree is open on 3 sides for getting stuff into so I am not to worried about any thing going into the house but will use some sheets of plywood against the house in case a branch takes a bad bounce.