Tulip Poplar advice

[ddhlakebound]

I looked at a large tulip poplar today, roughly 4' dbh and around 100' tall. It's over a house and a garage, but has a good high rig point, and a nice big lz.

The problem lies about 40' up. The tree was topped probably 25-35 years ago. It was difficult to notice, it's been so long ago. Hard to say what diameter the limbs were when they were long ago topped, but now there are leads 20-24" diameter growing above the old topping cuts.

I know how brittle Tulip Poplar is, but my main concern is will those regrown topping cuts be strong enough to rig off of?

What are your experiences with previously topped Tulip Poplars? Weakness? Decay? I don't have much experience dealing with trees topped long ago, and not touched since.

Edit: Oh, yeah, it's a removal.....don't have to rig down any big wood, mostly just the limbs. Most all the big wood can be bombed down.

 

[appalachianarbo]

I'd have no problem with rigging off a topped tulip poplar (assuming there's no decay, etc.). I did one a few months back. Since they're so straight, they're easy to use multiple rigging points and ease the stresses on each lead.

 

[ddhlakebound]

Thanks appalachianarbo.

Who else has been up in a previously topped Tulip Poplar? How badly do they decay from heading cuts?

 

[treemandan]

Thanks appalachianarbo.

Who else has been up in a previously topped Tulip Poplar? How badly do they decay from heading cuts?

Always looking at some mess of a poplar, without a crane it can be overwhelming.
I have climbing lines as small as ten feet. I can get pretty much anywhere to rig it. Now to cut it? That's different.
Multiple tie in points for self and rigging is key, I think. I usually find a meaty lowering point and tie in above it as high as I can. Sometimes right above it on the same limb. I usually set other points to tie in when cutting. I guess this is actually pretty basic but it can't be done easily without having a bunch of good ropes and with out taking the time to make sure its going to work.
Sure, you are going to find little almost closed up puckers that lead to cavities all over the place. Hope to God your rope man understands the plan.

 

[tree MDS]

What is the latin name for this Tulip Poplar? I thought the two were different families? Tulip is a tulip- in the magnolia family- Poplar is in the Populus (poplar) family I think.

 

[limbwalker54]

Liriodendron tulipfera I think i spelled that right.

 

[limbwalker54]

Proper common name would be Tuliptree/Tulip Magnolia/Tulip Poplar/Yellow Poplar or Whitewood.....that's straight out of the book for the MANY common names.....

Yes it is in the Magnoliaceae Family

 

[tree MDS]

Liriodendron tulipfera I think i spelled that right.

That was my point, thats what we have around here- nothing poplar about a tulip, different animal.

 

[tree MDS]

Yes you are right on that one. I looked it up on my Horticpia thing. I thought that was just some hick term because I knew tulip was magnolia, not poplar- my bad. Thanks man.

 

[limbwalker54]

Hick term, eh?

I didn't realize the suburbs of philly were connotative of the hick term... lol

 

[limbwalker54]

Glad to be of service, btw

 

[Rftreeman]

I've heard the term "tulip poplar" for many years refering to the poplar trees

 

[oldirty]

i figured they called the tulip polpar a tulip because of the leaves.


any one know whats better than roses on your piano?

















tulips on your organ.

 

[masterarbor]

I've heard the term "tulip poplar" for many years refering to the poplar trees

I've heard them rererred to as Yellow Poplars

 

[2FatGuys]

We get called to do a lot of tulip poplar removals. Most of the larger ones have been topped, naturally in 1989, or by tree guys since then. It's not uncommon for us to do a removal of one exceeding 100' high. We have never had a problem rigging off the regrowth, as long as we use some common sense. Understanding how brittle they can be, as well as the history of the area, helps you to make smarter choices.

Stay safe. Take smaller pieces. Live longer....

 

[B-Edwards]

Hick term, eh?

I didn't realize the suburbs of philly were connotative of the hick term... lol

I think the hick language was brought into NC from Philly

 

[Moestavrn]

i figured they called the tulip polpar a tulip because of the leaves.


any one know whats better than roses on your piano?

















tulips on your organ.

am I the only one that got this, not other replies! COME ONNNN, aren't you guys tree guys! Well this is what I have to work with almost on a daily basis. I thought it was hilarious, so you can see what our day conversations are about.....

 

[Rftreeman]

I've heard them rererred to as Yellow Poplars

yep, that too...