This plaque says that Peter the Great planted an oak tree at this place (around 1703). In 2003 (the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg), an oak tree was planted here again. I pruned this young oak a little.
Rottonwood stinks. Compared to Tamarix, it hinges better, more fibrous, softer, lighter (when dry), wetter. Not as strong or hard dry. Groovy bark holds dirt and dulls chains, but not as bad. Not as dusty. This one had a dog drinker at the base, think the constant wet got it. The neighboring river red gum I’m going to deadwood later and set her up to deep water soak thru the edge of the driveway.
Dropped the first, smaller RH stem off, very nice. Not too aggressive on the redirect and got several degrees/feet of swing. Humboldt closed on the compression side and gapped on the tension side. Gunning cut angled high on the tension side and the back cut higher yet.
Took two rounds off the stump. Back bar plunge leaves the kerf full of sawdust so the round doesn’t pinch the saw.
Then things went south.
I couldn’t move the last round. Not knowing green cottonwood is unsplittable, I split it…with much difficulty. Soaked up a few wedges, then axe and maul. Took them back out and plunge noodled it with the 346. Took all the rest of my wedges in the un cut part to get it apart, then chop the fibers. The crack curved on some of the wedges and broke them lengthwise. I was pretty beat by the end of the day.
Axe broke driving a plastic wedge. Maul broke trying to wiggle it out with a half hearted one handed effort. 🙄
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