treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #76
i'll see it saturday (if it does not fall over before that)
Cabling the Cracking Maple
- Thread starter treelooker
- Start date
- Replies 100
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Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Hold the phone now .You guys are talking about a maple tree here .A rotten one to boot . How in the world can you save a rotten maple pray tell ? I think the only thing that rots faster than maple is hickory once it gets exposed to the weather .
Most of the removals done in this neck of the woods are on hollow rotten maples ,crack or no crack .
I dunno maybe with about 20 pounds of super glue, a mile of cable and a fiberglass patch or something .
Most of the removals done in this neck of the woods are on hollow rotten maples ,crack or no crack .
I dunno maybe with about 20 pounds of super glue, a mile of cable and a fiberglass patch or something .
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #78
How do you know it's rotten?
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Well ,unless I'm confused on the pictures it appears that when he stuck his hand in the crack he pulled out rot .Unless I'm getting the pics confused .
N
NeTree
Guest
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #81
sweetgum!
Cracked Sweetgum Report 080913
ASSIGNMENT
September 13 2008 Mark of the Association asked me to assess the condition of a tree at Road in , and describe reasonable management options. Per the request of the city arborist, I was assigned to determine whether a support system could comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)’s standards on support systems, so I refer to ANSI A300 (Part 3) 2006. I am not certain whether my client is the City of , the Association, both, or neither. I agreed to inspect the tree as soon as possible given the emergency conditions.
OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION
The tree forks out a foot above the ground. The smaller fork has a moderate lean over the road and powerlines. Lower branches have been shortened to avoid the powerlines, but higher branches extend over them and over the property across the street. The larger trunk has a slight lean toward the residence. The fruit is in its green stage, with more water and more weight.
A crack between the trunks has opened this summer and is now 1-2” wide. There is no visible decay inside the crack at present, but the wood is highly likely to decay in the future. There is a small amount of decay in a ground-level wound facing the street. The trunk shows no defects, and the wounds from pruning branches appear to be sealing well. There is one fork above the yard with included bark. Many branches on both trunks have heavy ends. The top of the tree has less leaves.
Both trunks form major scaffold limbs about thirty feet up. I climbed the tree to complete my inspection, and in light of the considerable hazard I tied the trunks together with rope to prevent further failure and damage. I read the relevant portions of both the ANSI standards and the Best Management Practices (BMP’s) published by the International Society of Arboriculture. I saw the last 5 panels of the Taylor’s sidewalk lifted, and the grass near the tree is brown, indicating aggressive root expansion and water uptake. The asphalt pavement on Road has small cracks, allowing infiltration of water and nutrients and gas exchange.
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
1. A 3/8” Extra High Strength (EHS) cable properly installed below the scaffold forks would comply with ANSI standards. Rated at 13,600 pounds, it can support the defect and work to prevent further opening of the wound.
2. The branches can be shortened, reducing strain on the defect and perhaps allowing the trunks to be pulled closer together when the cable is installed. If sufficient pruning is done every 5 years, and decay does not spread rapidly, the cable may be strong enough on its own.
3. The trunks can also be bolted (braced) together, but ANSI standards do not require this treatment. The ISA BMP’s state that brace rods are used to stabilize forks that have cracked. Propping and guying are support methods that do not seem to fit this tree.
4. Removing the five sidewalk panels and adding 4-6” of loose soil and sand before possibly relaying them would provide more rooting area for the tree. So would mulching an area extending in an arc around the tree, where the grass is brown and woody roots protrude above the surface. Chopping the leaves that drop this autumn and spreading the chips from the pruning work about 4” deep would more closely approximate the nutrient recycling and root protection in the tree’s natural growing conditions. The rooting area beneath the gravel driveway could be aerated and fertilized, according to its needs. Testing the soil, adjusting the acidity, and adding prescribed nutrients might also improve the tree’s ability to strengthen itself, over time.
The work should be done by a Certified Arborist experienced with the treatments specified, especially pruning over power lines and designing and installing support systems.
This concludes my report. I can clarify any portions of it upon request.
Sincerely Yours,
BCMA
Cracked Sweetgum Report 080913
ASSIGNMENT
September 13 2008 Mark of the Association asked me to assess the condition of a tree at Road in , and describe reasonable management options. Per the request of the city arborist, I was assigned to determine whether a support system could comply with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)’s standards on support systems, so I refer to ANSI A300 (Part 3) 2006. I am not certain whether my client is the City of , the Association, both, or neither. I agreed to inspect the tree as soon as possible given the emergency conditions.
OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION
The tree forks out a foot above the ground. The smaller fork has a moderate lean over the road and powerlines. Lower branches have been shortened to avoid the powerlines, but higher branches extend over them and over the property across the street. The larger trunk has a slight lean toward the residence. The fruit is in its green stage, with more water and more weight.
A crack between the trunks has opened this summer and is now 1-2” wide. There is no visible decay inside the crack at present, but the wood is highly likely to decay in the future. There is a small amount of decay in a ground-level wound facing the street. The trunk shows no defects, and the wounds from pruning branches appear to be sealing well. There is one fork above the yard with included bark. Many branches on both trunks have heavy ends. The top of the tree has less leaves.
Both trunks form major scaffold limbs about thirty feet up. I climbed the tree to complete my inspection, and in light of the considerable hazard I tied the trunks together with rope to prevent further failure and damage. I read the relevant portions of both the ANSI standards and the Best Management Practices (BMP’s) published by the International Society of Arboriculture. I saw the last 5 panels of the Taylor’s sidewalk lifted, and the grass near the tree is brown, indicating aggressive root expansion and water uptake. The asphalt pavement on Road has small cracks, allowing infiltration of water and nutrients and gas exchange.
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
1. A 3/8” Extra High Strength (EHS) cable properly installed below the scaffold forks would comply with ANSI standards. Rated at 13,600 pounds, it can support the defect and work to prevent further opening of the wound.
2. The branches can be shortened, reducing strain on the defect and perhaps allowing the trunks to be pulled closer together when the cable is installed. If sufficient pruning is done every 5 years, and decay does not spread rapidly, the cable may be strong enough on its own.
3. The trunks can also be bolted (braced) together, but ANSI standards do not require this treatment. The ISA BMP’s state that brace rods are used to stabilize forks that have cracked. Propping and guying are support methods that do not seem to fit this tree.
4. Removing the five sidewalk panels and adding 4-6” of loose soil and sand before possibly relaying them would provide more rooting area for the tree. So would mulching an area extending in an arc around the tree, where the grass is brown and woody roots protrude above the surface. Chopping the leaves that drop this autumn and spreading the chips from the pruning work about 4” deep would more closely approximate the nutrient recycling and root protection in the tree’s natural growing conditions. The rooting area beneath the gravel driveway could be aerated and fertilized, according to its needs. Testing the soil, adjusting the acidity, and adding prescribed nutrients might also improve the tree’s ability to strengthen itself, over time.
The work should be done by a Certified Arborist experienced with the treatments specified, especially pruning over power lines and designing and installing support systems.
This concludes my report. I can clarify any portions of it upon request.
Sincerely Yours,
BCMA
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Well ,that's nice but what does that have to do with a rotten maple with a big crack in it .
N
NeTree
Guest
I think he's trying to say that a thorough examination and report should be done before condemning a tree.
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #84
Al, dude, re "rotten", it SEZ, "There is no visible decay inside the crack at present, but the wood is highly likely to decay in the future."
Decay is expected, but managed by cleaning out the crack and closing it (thanks I added that), and by invigorating the roots. The steel could buy a lot of years, with the tree monitored/decay measured annually.
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Treelooker,dude ,the subject was not a gum tree.I thought the whole kit and caboodle was over a cracked maple and by the picture it certainly looks rotten to me . That gum tree thing was nothing but a side bar .
Al, dude, re "rotten", it SEZ, "There is no visible decay inside the crack at present, but the wood is highly likely to decay in the future."
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #86
Yup, I misnamed it from the pic based on the client's ID.
NickfromWI
King of Splices
Me too.
M
Mike Maas
Guest
Perhaps if it were put into a context you more readily understand...
Say you have a truck with rust. I've seen a truck so rusty, it broke in half. It could have happened when it was going 65 MPH. I've also been nearly missed by an old bucket truck which had its brake line brake open and it was parked uphill from me.
Now, does this mean every truck with an amount of rust should be junked?
It comes down to reducing the risk through mitigation, and monitoring the tree through time, just like an old truck. You replace the brake lines, inspect the rest of the system, and drive the old truck, if that's what you want.
The same with a tree. If work can be done that re-enforces the tree to an acceptable level of risk, why not do it?
It doesn't mean the tree will stand strong forever, any more than fixing brakes on a truck will mean they will never need work again, or that the truck may someday need to be junked.
It may just be a matter of perception. In urban areas where trees are considered a valuable asset, it may be different than out on the farm, where trees are growing like mad all over the place, and losing one isn't a big deal, it's firewood! LOL!
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Oh I'm not saying there isn't some merit in prolonging the useful life of a tree . In highly urbanized areas it's a much bigger deal than here in the cornfield .
Fact is I've done a little of this stuff myself .It's just I've seen many many maples fail in short order once they split and spill their guts .---but it's not my tree nor my call .
Fact is I've done a little of this stuff myself .It's just I've seen many many maples fail in short order once they split and spill their guts .---but it's not my tree nor my call .
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
N
NeTree
Guest
Dang, Mike. You need to come by more often... good to see you.
treelooker
Treehouser
N
NeTree
Guest
LMAO
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
Why then did you do a report or submit same[copy /paste ] about a gum tree of all things ? This thing is stranger than fiction
By all means bolt that thing together ,cable ,fiberglass ,pine tar whatever it takes . Don't however be parking that prized model A of uncle Charleys under it .
treelooker
Treehouser
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #96
City guy is diddling; dept. head is reviewing the report now.
I wrote the report right after climbing the tree, but i started the thread based on pics.
Hey Al don't you Ohioans like sweetgums?
I wrote the report right after climbing the tree, but i started the thread based on pics.
Hey Al don't you Ohioans like sweetgums?
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
I wouldn't know a gum tree if I saw one . Nary a one in these parts that I know of .
There's plenty of them here. I like the columnar variety; a nice new twist. Most of the larger gums in the city are gone. People have a low tolerance for the fruit... dries hard & izza bummer to step on.
Betcha you've got them around & just didn't notice... maybe ?
Liquidambar styraciflua
Betcha you've got them around & just didn't notice... maybe ?
Liquidambar styraciflua
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Al Smith
Mac Daddy
You are probabley right T . I'm more of a woodsman and really don't know chit from shinola on what's planted in urban landscaping .It could be any number of varities not native to these parts . For all I know I could have stumbled into a Douglas fir a time or two but wouldn't know it from a pine tree .
Stuff like tulip poplar ,redbud etc are just transplants to this area as I suppose perhaps a gum tree is . Actually the soft or silver and red maples are transplants because the native species is sugar maple .Ontario doesn't have them all .
Stuff like tulip poplar ,redbud etc are just transplants to this area as I suppose perhaps a gum tree is . Actually the soft or silver and red maples are transplants because the native species is sugar maple .Ontario doesn't have them all .
Doug fir is one of the easier to I.D, Al. Thick needles that smell like lemony-orange, and don't pick like Spruce. They don't get very tall here.
Not to be a treebitch, but I'm pretty sure that Redbud is a native tree.
It'd be fun to get together & exchange info, but the internet will have to suffice. I learn a ton o' stuff from you here !
Not to be a treebitch, but I'm pretty sure that Redbud is a native tree.
It'd be fun to get together & exchange info, but the internet will have to suffice. I learn a ton o' stuff from you here !
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