Hi everyone!
I’m a new homeowner (closed less than a week ago) and I don’t know too much about trees. So im just sharing a bunch of pictures of my trees. I’m pretty sure most of the trees I’ve got are sweetgums (spikey balls everywhere).
The previous homeowners put these hooks into the trees – what do you recommend for the health of the trees. Leave it?
Also one of the trees has a different color to it with moss or fungus or something? Does anyone spot any red flags?
I’m also not sure how to do my yard with all the shallow root systems. Would love any recommendations!
lol also we’ve called the power company to come and trim the tree resting on the power line. I went on Google Maps and looked at the older photos and that limb has been resting on the line for about 10 years which is wild to me.
by mandersontogo
3 Comments
I would attempt to remove the hooks. I too had a tree with hooks in it when i purchased and half the tree eneded up dying and having to come down altogether. I think it could be due to unknown cheap metals.
Thanks for putting in so many pictures, this really helps us with giving recommendations!
The hooks and bolts are unfortunate, and should have been removed years ago. At this point, I don’t think most of them can be removed at all without damaging the tree even more than leaving them alone would. At most, I might consider an annual marking of the sites of the hooks with paint, so that the tree company that has to come in to cut them down (in 50 years or more!) knows they’re there, and doesn’t try to cut through them with their chainsaws.
A couple of the trees have codominant trunks (double trunks), which are not structurally very strong. On the plus side, these trees are quite old, and have no doubt experienced numerous storms. They haven’t failed yet, and I don’t see any obvious signs that they will fail in the near future. If this concerns you, you will need to hire a Certified Arborist who is TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualified) to examine the trees in person.
The tree with the different color barks…that coloration is due to lichens, which are harmless organisms that grow on rocks, logs, and tree trunks. Doesn’t hurt anything. However, that tree with the lichen is also the one with the double trunk, and what appears to be a crack in the bark…that needs to be examined by the Certified Arborist.
I think the hooks will be fine, I’d leave them in so nothing gets into the tree from the hole. Beautiful yard, congrats. The power company may not trim that limb of it is the line from the street to your house. Or they may charge you. Usually, they are responsible for the lines at the street and we, as homeowners, are responsible for the rest. But I could be wrong. With the root systems, try not to dig through any big roots just the little ones. So when planting things you may have to design and redesign your garden. I suggest shade loving plants because that is a lot of trees in your yard! Love it!