this is what happens when you don't spray carpenter ants

[hupte]

this is what happens when you bring carpenter ants home in your firewood/logs, and you don't spray em quick enough. they get into a tree. in all fairness the tree was 2 trees growing together. which gave the ants, a way in, and a supply of water... it happens. really I just thought everyone might enjoy the pics.

 

[Jed1124]

Your old co dom Elm (I think I'ts a Elm) was suffering from decay from that second leader being cut off long ago. The ants just move into the soft wet decaying wood. They are not the cause of the failure.

 

[Moonshiner180]

Well...on the bright side... you have extra firewood, and it didnt seem to do any damage to the house

 

[hupte]

Your old co dom Elm (I think I'ts a Elm) was suffering from decay from that second leader being cut off long ago. The ants just move into the soft wet decaying wood. They are not the cause of the failure.

it was actually a mulberry... thanks for the info.

 

[hupte]

Well...on the bright side... you have extra firewood, and it didnt seem to do any damage to the house

ya It just brushed the house... it just barely missed the gas line, coming from the propane tank.

 

[olyman]

X on propain tank???

 

[lindnova]

Must be fun to put the bucket on that stack!

 

[djones]

I have cut down several large white Poplar trees around my hay field and when I split them there were millions of carpenter ants that came out of them. Thank god I had chickens. When I brought the Rooster over to the splitter, he started looking and looking at the activity on the ground around him then started calling his hens over and in no time the whole flock was there having a feast. From that point on, every time I was done splitting the flock would head to the splitter to see what they could scrounge up.

 

[Fred Wright]

Good to know that your home didn't suffer a direct hit. A few feet to the right and you could be posting this thread from a hotel room.

The tree appears to be rotten through at the split. Ants didn't help but they didn't cause it either. That tree was doomed long before the ants found it.

On a brighter note you got some fine firewood there and didn't have to travel to get it.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Your old co dom Elm (I think I'ts a Elm) was suffering from decay from that second leader being cut off long ago. The ants just move into the soft wet decaying wood. They are not the cause of the failure.

I tend to agree that the carpenter ants are not the primary cause of the tree failure. In fact, the grub worms may be a far greater threat and do more damage. The ants devour what the grub worms leave behind. The two tend to get along very well, especially near the base of the tree. The ants have been known, however, to get inside the broken off branches of trees over 30 feet up from the ground.

 

[msmith]

it was actually a mulberry... thanks for the info.

Now the birds won't be poopin' purple on your stuff.

 

[Oldman47]

I have removed lots of mulberry but it never stopped the birds and their purple stuff. They are my main source of new mulberry trees.

 

[hupte]

Must be fun to put the bucket on that stack!

lol. the skidder makes easy work of it (portable ladder) don't do as I do. lol.

 

[hupte]

Good to know that your home didn't suffer a direct hit. A few feet to the right and you could be posting this thread from a hotel room.

The tree appears to be rotten through at the split. Ants didn't help but they didn't cause it either. That tree was doomed long before the ants found it.

On a brighter note you got some fine firewood there and didn't have to travel to get it.

I agree it could have been much worse.
actually the "split" you see is the line between the 2 trees growing as one. (common with mulberrys). I cut down the other half of the tree a few years ago, Ironically the "tree" I cut down is the one left standing. lol.

and yes the tree was doomed, but, in all fairness all trees are doomed, just a matter of when.
yes with the firewood!!! I found myself saving much smaller pieces than usual just because it was just a few short steps to the pile. a guy can't ask for easier firewood... well... I could as but I'm sure I wouldn't get it. lol.

 

[sledge&wedge]

I have removed lots of mulberry but it never stopped the birds and their purple stuff. They are my main source of new mulberry trees.

That flyin' purple poop you are seeing may not be from mulberry trees. We have what a lot of people call pokeweed or horseweed around here that birds also munch on, and they also produce that pretty shade of maroon doo-doo.

 

[Oldman47]

I am in the process of removing bird planted mulberries on my fence line so I am sure what they are pooping here. Not sure about the situation elsewhere.

 

[brenndatomu]

Now don't that beat all! That tree just done went and volunteered itself as firewood right next to your stacks, and, tried to take out that evil pro-pain tank too! You lucky dog you

 

[moondoggie]

You get that on these big jobs!!!

 

[hupte]

Now don't that beat all! That tree just done went and volunteered itself as firewood right next to your stacks, and, tried to take out that evil pro-pain tank too! You lucky dog you

lol!!!! ya next time, I'm gonna try to get it to buck its self into rounds as it falls on the pile... maybe... lol. that pro(fessional)-pain tank was filled up many years ago and its still almost full, it woulda made an impressive boom. lol.

 

[brenndatomu]

next time, I'm gonna try to get it to buck its self into rounds as it falls on the pile

Just tell it, real nicely of course, to "go buck yourself"