storm damaged maple

Labour of Love · Jun 1, 2011

So, I was asked to look at this tree and give an opinion because "the tree guy will always tell you to take it down". I went, I looked, and I agree with the tree guy.

It had 3 ±15" leaders (all grown together, possibly even 3 trees originally) and the tree is 60 feet tall with no canopy below 35 feet. There is a partly dead area 20 or so feet off the ground with a raccoon family living in it.

One of the three leaders failed in a big storm 2 days ago. The resulting opening is large enough for a 250 lb. man to easily fit in. Light can be seen through the remaining spars in two places at 6' above ground level. I hope the pix do it justice - it's one of the scariest trees I've seen in a while and could easily fail onto a historic building.

Opinions welcomed and thanks in advance.

MasterBlaster · Jun 1, 2011

Put it out of its misery.

Labour of Love · Jun 1, 2011

It looked a lot worse in person than in the pix.

SkwerI · Jun 1, 2011

How thick is the live wood around the worst cavities? It looks like it may not be safe to climb in order to remove it.

Labour of Love · Jun 1, 2011

Skwerl said:
How thick is the live wood around the worst cavities? It looks like it may not be safe to climb in order to remove it.

You got that right!! 3" around a completely hollow core. It'll take a boom truck to take it down.

Al Smith · Jun 1, 2011

It's hollow and rotten .Maples won't stand that long in that shape .

flushcut · Jun 1, 2011

I think a dignified death is in order.

SouthSoundTree · Jun 1, 2011

Try to keep the racoon home by making wildlife spar? You can always remove it later.

stig · Jun 2, 2011

Just fill the cavity with concrete and it should be good for a few more years.

flushcut · Jun 2, 2011

stig said:
Just fill the cavity with concrete and it should be good for a few more years.

And some expanding foam and tar to top it off just to be sure

Bounce · Jun 2, 2011

Is it just me or do you guys also feel like Captain Obvious when you point to a massive cavity like this and have to explain to the customer why massive decay is bad.

Burnham · Jun 2, 2011

It's just you, Sean. Everyone else has intelligent customers...wonder why the dummies all flock to you?

Not much question there, Kate...begone, tree.

Cobleskill · Jun 2, 2011

We have so many raccoons we think about destroying habitat. Ever since the fur price dropped 20 some years ago we have been overrun. They drop rabies bait from planes to keep them healthy. Cute little buggers, but too many is a bad thing.

Labour of Love · Jun 2, 2011

I will be printing this 'conversation' out and giving it to the owners with an explanation about the sarky cavity-filling posts. I did the once-over as a favor to a client who's friends with the tree's owners - not even billable. Drat! Perhaps the goodwill will translate to some future work.

You all have made my job of explaining to them a lot easier. Many thanks.

Al Smith · Jun 2, 2011

Well besides the tree you certainly need not worry about the racoons .Old brer coon is just about the most adaptable animal on the planet .They could care less if they live in a tree or the trunk of a '57 Chevy .

CurSedVoyce · Jun 2, 2011

Them and wood rats.

SkwerI · Jun 2, 2011

CurSedVoyce said:
Them and wood rats.

:what:

CurSedVoyce · Jun 2, 2011

Wood rat.... Makes a nest of sticks at the base of trees and in rocks and branches near the ground. BIG NESTS.
Wood rat...

SkwerI · Jun 2, 2011

Ahh, I thought you were talking about 'tree rats'. :lol:

CurSedVoyce · Jun 2, 2011

Tree rat or fruit rat .. Yup.. That would be another one...
Used to get those in our orange orchard at my grandmas down south. Those were done away with prejudice.
Tree Rat....

Not to be confused with a Sqwerl :lol:

treesandsurf · Jun 3, 2011

Those pics don't tell much. Need to see the cavity in relationship to the tree. Doesn't look good from your description and the very minimalist photos. An overview shot to get the scope of the cavity would go a long way.

jp

Labour of Love · Jun 3, 2011

treesandsurf said:
Those pics don't tell much. Need to see the cavity in relationship to the tree. Doesn't look good from your description and the very minimalist photos. An overview shot to get the scope of the cavity would go a long way.

jp

Agreed, but I was coming from one job & on the way to another and not anticipating the need for a ladder. No lie, a 250 lb. 6' tall person could easily fit into the cavity and you might see the top of his head.

Al Smith · Jun 3, 2011

Ooooh then you you could get a whole clan of 'coons in that hole plus the partridge of pear tree fame .

treelooker · Jun 4, 2011

From your description it sounds like a poor candid ate for retention. a pic of the whole tree would be nice.

Labour of Love · Jun 7, 2011

treelooker said:
From your description it sounds like a poor candid ate for retention. a pic of the whole tree would be nice.

Here ya go. I could only get far enough away from one direction to get the entire tree in one frame. So, the pics that seem to be half a tree are exactly that - one half followed by the other half.

storm damaged maple

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