Remove or Not?

[JJG]

I have a pine and a spruce that are close to my house (25ft or less). The pine is about 50FT and the Norway Spruce is about 40ft, both are about 16-18" DBH and straight. With all of the rain and wind we have been getting, it made me think about these trees. I'm told they are shallow rooted. The pine is on the east side of the house, prevailing wind is from the west, so it should fall away from the house if the wind was a factor. The norway spruce is on the west side of the house. Would you guys remove them or let them alone?

 

[Blazin]

Whack em..... only tree huggers leave a softwood that close to their house.

 

[pdqdl]

They have been there for 40 years, and now you are worried? In the face of no reason other than nervousness, I would say keep them. Every tree comes down someday, but that doesn't mean you can't get many years of benefit before you need be concerned.

If they are mess, you don't like them, they are failing, or some other good reason: sure! remove.

But not just because you think it would be a good idea. If you are losing sleep every night when the breeze blows, invite a qualified arborist to do an evaluation. They should be able to ease your mind. Be sure to let them know that someone else will be removing the tree if they recommend removal.

Perhaps a conversation with your insurance company would be in order. Keep in mind that they will always recommend removal to eliminate their risk...until you ask them to pay for the removal of the risk. So long as you are buying, they would rather have all the trees within bowshot removed.

 

[JJG]

Since I've been in the house they have put on some height (17 yrs), probably at least 10FT. I removed a large silver maple back in 2005 that definitely needed taken out, and as a result, the Norway has benefited from more light. I like them both, just looking for some opinions.

 

[flushcut]

Is that 25' form the trunk or drip edge? If from the drip edge I would leave them but the trunk I would take them if it were my house.

 

[treeseer]

got a camera?

i have a lot of 70-80' pines near the house, and a 97' tuliptree 15' away.

they are professionally managed.

we sleep fine; 15 years here, hurricanes and ice storms have not bothered them.

Strength in numbers--preserve the grove.

 

[JJG]

Here they are.

View attachment 129357

View attachment 129358

 

[Loraxguy]

thumbs up or down???

They appear from the jpg's to be fine--so I would give them a thumbs up

 

[tree md]

Personally, I would recommend keeping them.

Trees are a renewable resource but who wants to wait around for 30-50 years. Trees add value to your home. The shade from trees reduces your cooling bill in the Summer and with the wind block probably reduces your heating bill in the Winter as well. I would prune back any limbs that come into contact with your shingles or house (even if they are close they can cause shingle damage when the wind blows). They look healthy to me and of no hazard to your home. I'd recommend to any of my clients to keep them.

 

[treeseer]

both would benefit from light professional pruning.

can you move mulch and dirt off the stem and take a pic of the first roots coming off the stems?

 

[flushcut]

Just saw the pics keep them but give them a haircut.

 

[JJG]

Attached is a view of the pine, you can't see much of the roots from any angle, all are below ground level. The Spruce has ivy all over the root area, but the roots look healthy and are more visible (no rot, fungus etc).

Thanks for all of the feedback, think I'll keep them and trim them up this year.

 

[treeseer]

Attached is a view of the pine, you can't see much of the roots from any angle, all are below ground level.

yES, THAT'S WHY YOU GOTTA REMOVE THE DIRT FROM THE STEM UNTIL THE FIRST ROOT IS VISIBLE. sorry bout caps

Thanks for all of the feedback, think I'll keep them and trim them up this year.

a LITTLE CLIP WILL DO IT!

 

[BC WetCoast]

25 - 50', in my opinion is not close to a house, that is the size of most urban lots.

I was working on a Douglas fir last week, fertilizing it actually, trunk was about 8' from the house, DBH was about 40-50" and had to be about 140' tall. I suspect the tree was about 100 years old, as most of that neighbourhood had been originally logged in the 1900 - 1910's and the house had the look of 1960's, so the two had coexisted for the past 50 years.

After observing some of these old timers and how they react to construction, I sometimes wonder if we worry too much about loss of root mass, as long as the structural root system is not heavily compromised.

As far as the OP, the trees look fine to me. Some clearance pruning is all I see required.