Opinions Please - Cut This Tree ??

[Fireaxman]

The Rest of the Story

People, that is what we manage, not trees. We know about trees, care about trees, and like to be paid for doing our thing to trees and for trees. ...

When a tree starts to be an issue with the homeowner or the concern reaches a certain level, then we do what is right for the person, not the tree.

My 2c worth.

I was discussing all of your recomendations with the homeowner today, and he volunteered "The Rest of the Story". It is incredibly timely, unbelievable actually. I am afraid you may accuse me of setting this up, but he assures me it is the complete truth, and I solemnly assure you under threat of damnation I knew nothing about it when I started this thread. I was simply concerned about a pine tree with codominant stems growing out over my freinds house in the aftermath of Katrina.

This tree was once a Christmas tree. After Christmas the year it was decorated, about 40 years ago, it was planted by the homeowners brother, who was then about 12 years old.

The homeowner's brother died of an annurism at the age of 19, about 33 years ago.

My freind thinks he has pictures of the tree decorated, and again after it was planted, with the young man who planted it standing beside it. I have asked him to try and find the pictures, I'll keep you posted.

 

[skwerl]

The longer this guy looks at that pine tree, the closer it is to being cut down. It has absolutely nothing to do with the health or stability of the tree and has everythnig to do with ignorance and fear. In my experience once a homeowner starts thinking about a tree breaking off and crashing through their roof, the tree is as good as gone. There is nothing anyone here could say or do to convince the guy that the tree is sturdier and stronger than his house (which it probably is). And unless you have a structurally unsound limb to reduce, pruning back one side will do nothing but create sap drippings. In a 100+ mph storm, the wind doesn't really care which direction the tree might be leaning or which side might be 100 lbs heavier than the other. All that crap about "lightening one side so the COB is away from the house so it won't fall this direction" is complete and utter bullchit and only plays into the homeowner's ignorant fears and lack of understanding.

Cut the dam tree down, since that is the only thing that will get the homeowner to stop worrying about it at this point. The tree is as good as gone.

 

[Fireaxman]

Nope. The tree will stay. The longer he looks at it, the more he sees his brother standing beside it.

 

[skwerl]

Nope. The tree will stay. The longer he looks at it, the more he sees his brother standing beside it.

Cool. I'm glad I was wrong on this one (for a change).

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

That is great Miss Kate! Glad to help.

i should warn though, with this 2Handing and insetting; all of the sudden whithout realizing it in lifts/compressions - especially tiedowns; ya can bend or break something! Sometimes quite easily; not realizing what ya go!