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Post by binnylou on Aug 27, 2019 13:08:44 GMT -5
The situation is, we have three volunteer trees of good size. They are probably 10 to 12 feet tall and what I would call a junk tree...probably hackberry. I started trimming around one of the trees, and it is turning in to a nicely shaped tree. The problem is, I think the two other trees are going to crowd the first tree and we will end up with three trees, all growing away from each other. I think this will create three weak trees. I’d like to remove two of the trees, so that the first tree can grow to be a strong, straight tree.
These trees are at the edge of our groomed yard area...in the wild area of our property. While three weakened trees won’t be our problem, I’ve always tried to encourage even volunteer trees to grow strong and straight.
Hubby disagrees. What would you do? What’s your thoughts on shaping trees? Or removing some so another can flourish?
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Post by Wheelgarden on Aug 27, 2019 14:46:55 GMT -5
I'm not familiar with the growth habits of hackberry, and I'm certainly not an arborist, but in my limited experience it's best to give any tree plenty of room to grow, spread, and get maximum sunlight and airflow. Personally (and depending on how far apart the three are), I would thin the group to a single tree for better growth and form.
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 27, 2019 18:39:24 GMT -5
I would be thinning two out, as well. A tree needs room to express itself!
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Aug 28, 2019 12:07:25 GMT -5
Same here.
My yard is testament to what happens when less than desirable trees are allowed to grow freely. My southern property line is bordered by trees in my neighbor's yard, trees which were never taken care of and/or removed, and grew out of control. There's only 1 good tree, an oak. The others are a cottonwood tree, 2 (or 3 - I don't remember) poplars, an unidentified tree, some type of elm tree, and a mulberry.
Over the years, the poplars crashed down, on my property. A cottonwood branch about 25' long (best guess from memory) came down during a storm, narrowly missing my garage. The mulberry developed two trunks; one came down 5 - 6 years ago, on my property. The elm tree has 4 unstable branches leaning over my property. About 5 years ago the worst branch leaned at about a 20-25 degree angle. Now it's leaning at a 45 degree angle. There's another tree I can't identify, with an area of about 2' high and 6 - 7" wide of bare trunk, and appearing to be dying.
All of the trees except the oak are or could be hazardous, but if they were properly removed, the oak itself could be stronger. The former neighbor, mother and son with drug and alcohol addictions, never did anything to care for the trees (except when the son set fire to brush in the back yard, resulting in the fire department coming to the rescue).
That family is gone; Millennials have moved in and face all this mess on our joint border, along with other dying trees on the S side of their yard.
I say, take 2 of the trees down, now, before they're too big to handle in an area that might be difficult for a truck with a bucket ift to access, or before they become weak, creating a hazard, and come down on their own.
If the neighbors had cared for their trees, both my yard and the neighbor's would be much safer now.
And it'll cost a fortune to take down trees about 60'+ and growing.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 14, 2019 0:39:53 GMT -5
Well, that was easy. I really expected resistance from him. Two trees fell today. Of course, now he has more limbs to chip.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 14, 2019 9:57:22 GMT -5
Okay, I've another tree care question. We have a full grown hard maple tree that needs some structure support, I think. It's one of our "Lucy trees", so named because we dug them from the timber of my dear friend, Lucy.
Last year, it lost a center upward limb. Tree man came and cut it out. Then it lost another upward limb. I don't want to lose this tree. Have any of you ever had a tree cabled? I'm not sure if I can afford having it done, but am wondering if it works. What do you know about the process? Anybody?
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Post by martywny on Oct 14, 2019 11:49:27 GMT -5
I'm not sure if I can afford having it done, but am wondering if it works. What do you know about the process? The first thing I would do is find out why the branches are breaking. You're going to lay out some cash to have this done, not sure how much but a reputable service (arborist) will first determine what the problem is. Structural defect, needs pruning, disease, etc. Sometimes a serious pruning will help if it's a case of too much crown for the tree to support, sometimes it's disease and you should 'cut' your losses. Cables need to be placed up high in the tree to be effective so that includes climbing, ladders or bucket truck. I would say $500 - $800 if I had to put a price on it. Call for some estimates and don't volunteer any information. Just tell them about the limbs and ask for their recommendations. Let us know what you find out.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 14, 2019 11:52:41 GMT -5
martywny, the tree catches a lot of wind...it grows in a spot that is just out of protection from the windbreak. I figured at least $500.
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Post by martywny on Oct 14, 2019 12:50:26 GMT -5
the tree catches a lot of wind. If all else is well then pruning will help a lot but the professionals may be able to add more.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Oct 14, 2019 23:34:41 GMT -5
binnylou, can you post a photo of the tree? Sometimes seeing it, how it branches, and balances, can provide insight into branch loss.
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Post by Mumsey on Oct 17, 2019 4:45:41 GMT -5
binnylou, our neighbor has cabled his Autumn Blaze as it was beginning to crack, looks more like a really heavy duty strap. Our Autumn Blaze lost a large branch last year and fell on a corner of the pergola. The tree has filled in nicely where the branch was. We are taking out a silver maple, smallish now and long story. After being reduced to a 4 ft stump 4 years ago, it has regrown itself into a nuisance. Soft maple is the problem, they are not strong trees and limbs keep breaking when there is a direct north wind.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 20, 2019 14:42:28 GMT -5
This is the tree with the problem. I fear that winter will not be kind to it. DSCF0481 by BLou, on Flickr
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Post by Mumsey on Oct 20, 2019 17:23:15 GMT -5
We took care of our unruly tree today. It’s gone to the tree dump. The pergola is gone too. Looks naked out there. Brother and a friend of his did it for cheap.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Oct 20, 2019 22:05:47 GMT -5
binnylou , I see what you mean. The separation in the center looks like it could be a problem. It's a lovely fall color though. Looks like you have a lot of trees in your yard; it's quite lovely, nice and peaceful looking.
Are you still thinking of cabling it? I'm wondering if letting the leaves fall would reveal the structure more so an arborist could make a good suggestion.
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Post by binnylou on Oct 20, 2019 22:17:45 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️, I haven’t forgot about it. I just got sidetracked dealing with our water leak. The joys of home ownership.
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