What should I do with this tree?

[Diesel JD]

Hey guys, I am planning on pruning this tree which is next to my parents house. The images show how a couple of limbs hang over the house. The head and side lean are away from all targets but it is growing more and more foliage on the side nearest our house. The plan is to cut out only all the dead and damaged limbs and reduce the ones hanging over the house. My question is am I better off cutting the entire big limb shown in the pic which hangs over the house or simply reducing it. I have experience with pruning but with this being a prominent tree in the yard and one we all like a lot, I really don't want to butcher it. Thanks for any input.
J.D.

 

[pmuscato]

take it (the whole limb). More sun on roof less mold.

 

[Trignog]

reduce it

 

[kf_tree]

reduce it

i love the wording? kind of like saying petroleum distribution engineer for a gas station attendant. why not just say TOP IT.

 

[treeseer]

Reduce it to an upright lateral that will leave it in rough symmetry with the rest of the crown. I would do it from the roof with a long pole pruner; 4 snips might do the job.

 

[Diesel JD]

Yeah I don't think I want to get far enough out to reach it fropm the tree. If I reduce it to symmettry will there be enough foliage left to justify keeping it? Anymore opinions...I'd be glad to hear them,
J.D.

 

[skwerl]

There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the limb. But if the owner doesn't like it over his house, then any attempt to 'reduce' it will be unappreciated. Just whack the dam thing off and make the owner happy. It's a laurel oak and they can take a lot of excessive pruning without noticable ill effects. It won't hurt the tree and if you don't remove it, either you or somebody else will be removing it next year. If you don't cut enough now, then twice as much will be cut off next year.

 

[kf_tree]

treeseer has the right idea, if you can reach it from the roof with a pole clip just make a bunch of small cuts to reduce it.

 

[rebelman]

Is that die back at the very top? Hope not. Get into the tree and clean it. Remove the branch completely back to the collar, unless there is an especially good reduction point. General principles, proper pruning.

 

[Dadatwins]

Red lines indicate where I would probably make some cuts. looks like the limb over the roof forks out about where my line is so I would remove lower fork and cut upper one to upright lateral in that area. Other lines show what looks like deadwood and broken hangers, probably prune those out too. Mostly pole saw /clip , handsaw work, be careful.

 

[treeseer]

Remove the branch completely back to the collar, unless there is an especially good reduction point. General principles, proper pruning.

I don't know what that means, reb. Dada's red lines may work fine. there is also a good-looking reduction point futher back behind the fork. Yes there appears to be plenty of foliage to keep it going; if not, you can snip the ends above to get it more sun.

"There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the limb. But if the owner doesn't like it over his house, then any attempt to 'reduce' it will be unappreciated."

Wrong and wrong, rocky. Any limb with that much weight outside the canopy and over a target is high risk that should be mitigated. Whacking the whole thing off is an option, but not the most tree-friendly way. You know laurel oaks better than I, but i remember seeing some deep decay pockets after big limb removal.

Owners can be eduated to appreciate good arboriculture.

 

[Sheshovel]

Well,I hate to be the one to break the news but this tree has already been butcherd previously.Really kinda crappy.
But this is where I would cut it.

 

[clearance]

It is your parents house, they do not want to have to deal with it again. Do them a favor and whack it good, already been hacked, show little mercy. It will survive.

 

[jBo]

cut the whole limb off, It'll be ok

 

[Trignog]

i love the wording? kind of like saying petroleum distribution engineer for a gas station attendant. why not just say TOP IT.

I meant the limb not the tree.

 

[Diesel JD]

Hey, this thing has not been previously worked on except when I was a kid I took some small nonstructural branches out of it(this was 10 years ago or so). The damaged and dead limbs in the top I think come as a result of hurricane damage. I will try to get in there and clean it up. I took that to be a given, but that one limb hangs out from teh canopy, I'm not real sure I trust it structurally and if I do leave it it will be reduced. I just wanted to know if there was enough foliage left if I made a nodal cut liek the arborists here are saying. I have my answer.
Thanks,
J.D.