What fails first

[rskybiz]

I have this client and she does not want to loose her last bit of shade but as you'll see
something needs to be done, her house is to the left if the pine is on the right and vise versa if on the left. Just attemting to gather thoughts.

 

[Old Monkey]

How hard are they touching each other?

 

[SouthSoundTree]

What is the problem? Abrasion? What is the other tree? What are you asking about failing? Which is creating the shade? the taller pine? Will the other tree grow up into the space of the shading pine, if that is the situation?

 

[The Branch Doctor]

It'd help if the house was in the pics too. Kinda tough to see everything that's going on there but when in doubt ditch the divers and try to reduce a few of those very long tips.

 

[Old Monkey]

Off hand I say remove the pine but I'd want to know how long its been supporting the oak and how hard the two are pressed together.

 

[SkwerI]

It looks like the failure occurred 20-30 years ago and has resolved itself. The oak is leaning away from the house, correct? Are there other major defects other than the oak leaning on the pine? The sap is unsightly but indicative of a healthy pine tree with plenty of reserve energy to deal with wounds. I'm guessing the oak has had plenty of time to reroot in its current position and probably isn't going anywhere any time soon.

My guess is that both trees will be perfectly fine until the property owner cannot stand it any longer and has one or both cut down. Arborphobia will kill those trees before they fail, unless they get struck by lightning or something.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I need to see more, but I'm with Brian. Fuggetaboutit.

 

[Mr. Sir]

A leaning pine with heavy sap flow on the trunk could indicate Pitch Canker disiease, which weakens the structural integrity of the wood making it more prone to failure.

 

[dandandatreeman]

I would worry about the pine before the live oak. With the pics you have posted I would remove the pine and clean out the live oak real good maybe raise it up a hair and fertilize. That way the live oak will still shade the house and the pine which would be my real worry will be a non-issue. Thats what I see could be worng. Only looking at pics and can't see the whole "picture" if you know what I mean.

 

[rskybiz]

Thanks all, They are rubbing hard I can barely make any separation at the pine/oak rub. Brian the house is under the oak, lower left of pic is roof. I am going there to do a removal for trade of pines for more Garage space, I will lighten some ends of the oak and will most likely take the pine also as it should give the oak light away from the house to get it better balanced in the long haul. hopefully the oak will relax its grip on the pine once I lighten the ends.

 

[thattreeguy]

i d k i always climb and inspect trees like that
my plans come from my connection with the tree from the top down
you dont know what you have till youre up close and personal with it
the tree will tell ya what to do
all you have to do is listen

 

[dandandatreeman]

Careful up there on that seperation cut Risky.

 

[rskybiz]

Oh I will both get the trees input and be cautious on the seperation. Next weeks work, rain day today

 

[DMc]

Rsky, Do you know what caused the initial failure on the oak to cause it to press so heavily into the pine? I suppose it is possible there was no failure and that the pine just grew up in that location and became supportive. Either way, as you know, trees are reactionary. They develop strengths where needed. Because this co-dependency has been going on for a long time, as Brian stated, there will be weakness when the two are separated. Hopefully, your lightening of the lower limbs will, as you say, reduce the pressure. But I would still give this situation a heads up if its potential is to hit the house. It might be possible to throw a support system back to another tree if necessary.

Dave

 

[SkwerI]

I would guess the oak tipped in a hurricane many years ago. The wound looks too old to be the 2004 storms, so our last decent storm prior to that was around 1995 (give or take a couple years). IMO the pine looks like a wonderful brace for the oak but the oak is probably well rooted again by now.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

I wonder about lightening the oak, and then seeing if it stands up off the pine. Maybe leave the pine there for a couple of years to be sure that the oak can withstand storms, that is if the pine is some problem. They might be able to co-exist for a while before coming into contact again.

Another thought...if the oak stands up off the pine, it might start banging into the pine in a storm. Maybe something to cushion between the two in order to allow the trees to callus over any rubbed open wounds. Depends on the void space and the sway.

 

[rskybiz]

Dave I have been looking at this tree and the pine since doing winters in fl since 2001.
I have seen the oak growing heavier twords the house, and feel that something is bound to give sooner or later. It was not quite so pressed against the pine then but since the removal of the water oak on the other side of the house it has grown to that new found sunlight. It is still a young tree. I have no reason to believe that it has moved although I see that the wound is limited to the contact point. Not so much a contact by growth situation. So Brian I would think has it right in saying a storm. At any rate it will be mine to deal with. And I am fully confident that with the pine removed and oak free to fill the void that it will help balance things out.

 

[SkwerI]

If it is a younger oak then by all means lighten up the heavy side to redirect the growth. From the pictures it looked quite mature and full grown. Sounds like you have a good game plan.

And that nice tall pine is going to make an excellent tie in point so you can access all those long tips.

 

[rskybiz]

It is only at max 20in dbh it just sweeps more than it is tall, I just want to give it a better chance at a long life, Who knows might be my shade tree in my old age