A large limb fell during some light wind, nothing crazy. the tree already had a split trunk but this removed all the foliage from the center. Hard to tell now because leaves have already died and fell, but this did not look dead before.
I can see little holes throughout the fallen limb, and signs of bark coming off and decay. I have also been noticing sawdust at the base of the tree recently, before the limb fell. (the sawdust was not directly under this limb.) Hard to tell from the pic, but that is not dirt at the base of the tree, its wet sawdust on top of the mulch.
Fortunately the neighbor's evergreen helped catch this limb and prevent it from damaging the fence. But this is not the first time, a limb from the center fell a few years ago (I have a pic of what that middle section looks like now too). So I am worried about it. had the local tree guy come out and he said better to cut it down rather than prune or cable it. What do you think?
by metaluna76
13 Comments
tree is rotting, ground is too wet, mulch should not be there, tree is sick due to wet conditions and will eventually break / fall
More than enough signs here that this tree is structurally unsound throughout.
Remove it and also get all the wood and debris off the property to a compost facility. If transporting logs and brush is a problem, get it all chipped then pile the chips with added nitrogen source, and run a hot compost pile over the winter. Your goal is to eliminate boring insect and microbial pests infesting this tree, not spread them.
Was this an arborist or a local tree guy, the two terms are not always interchangeable. Local tree guy could very well be an ISA certified arborist but many are just dudes with chainsaws. If he is TRAQ certified, all the better.
Either way, that tree looks to be in rough shape and removal is likely the right course of action. Something to consider though is that dying/dead trees are still invaluable parts of the eco system. You could have it trimmed up to limit risks of smash your fence while still leaving a lot of standing wood for nesting birds, squirrels, and others. The saw dust and holes are both signs of active insect activity and so it’ll also attract birds that eat those insects like woodpeckers.
It’s shot the pro is correct.
Plant something else.
You showed good photos of the part that was damaged and failed. But you shouldn’t use that to make the decision of what to do with the rest of the tree. Maybe the tree already solve the problem and everything that’s left behind is in good condition.
Did the arborist have evidence to justify removal of the tree, other than the fact that a limb failed?
Yes I would
This appears to be a declining Norway maple. I recommend removal.
Well with or without the arborist, the street doesn’t look like much of a prize
Say your good byes
Your Arborist is correct. This tree is bad enough that a blind Arborist would make the same determination. Better off removing sooner than later. Good luck.
It is definitely in decline. Remove now before another limb falls and hurts someone or does property damage. Plant a native species in the spring. Red Maple, White Oak, Etc.
Waiting to implode.
Fall it now or it (gravity) falls itself sooner rather than later and the gravity of the fall is in your domain.