Pruning, Cabling and Removing Established Natives

13 years ago

I have a couple "low value" trees that I'm thinking about removing but I always have a hard time cutting down a native tree that is growing wild.

There are also a couple that I'm debating whether I invest in them.

Here a few pics, what are your thoughts for each?

This is a 40' Tilia americana. It has huge 6" caliper suckers that need to be removed. And in general it needs to be cleaned up.

The arborist recommended cabling the co-dominant leaders since this tree is 20' away from the garage. Personally I like Linden's and there isn't a JB problem in this area.

Would you go ahead and invest in this tree? Why or why not? The quote is due to me in a couple days.

This is a 20' Boxelder. Not my favorite tree but I'm thinking about keeping it until I get some other plants in. In the meantime I want to remove the stem to the left and to the right.

Is that too much to remove right now? The middle stem looks pretty good. I understand the 1/3 canopy rule but would that apply if you actually remove an entire stem?

This is a 30' Poplar. Again not my favorite tree, but it 30' away from the house. I'm leaned towards removing it. Would you?

This is 50' Poplar, it doesn't look it but its up there. This one is again 30' from the house. The problem is that its right on the otherside of my lot line.

Should I talk the builder into removing it when he begins work on the house in this empty lot? If he leaves it and the tree "where" to fall on my house, could I sue the owner?

Not that I want to but if I have to.

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Comments (9)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
13 years ago
Hey Whaas,

Is your place brand new construction?

Regarding the Tilia americana, I would cut the suckers off at ground level and see if the big fella leafed out nicely the next couple years. If there is structural damage which required cabling I would remove it now. It is a residential tree not a botanical garden wonder.

The little Box Elder I would probably kill. Many Acer family trees grow so fast. My neighbor has a mature Box Elder that just doesn't do alot besides attract the beetles.

The 30' Poplar looks to have fine structure. Same as with the other tree, if it leafs out fine after all the construction going on leave it until you have a replacement in mind. It has a certain 3 dimensional value.

The bigger one on the other lot I dunno. If they are building it will probably be put under some stress. Soil leveling/compaction, whatever they do to prep for sod will all stress it. If the construction boys get near it I would tell them remove the fella.
whaas_5a
Original Author
13 years ago
New construction...I sure hope they don't damage the spruce over there!

What do you mean by "If there is structural damage which required cabling I would remove it now." I don't know of any structural damage.
Its more preventative maintanance since there is a weak crotch angle low in the main structure of the tree. I wouldn't even consider doing so if it wasn't for the tree being 20' within my home.

There was also a green ash in-between the two T.americana's. I just told the arborist to leave it.

This is funny...look at what the Uconn website says about Populus tremuloides's liabilities.

Liabilities

do not plant near sewers, septic tanks, drains or sidewalks
suckers
canker
short-lived
too many to name
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whaas_5a
Original Author
13 years ago
Here is the scope of work. There is only one other company I'd trust to do the work in the area. Sounds like a lot to invest for these tress though.

Tree Pruning (removal of wood and brush included) $662.00

Linden 17" (front right near garage) crown clean and deadwood over .5", remove basal sprouts
Ash 13" (right side) crown clean and deadwood over 2", clear roof by 6 to 12 feet
Linden 26" (right side) crown clean over 1", remove basal sprouts including 4 larger 4" sprouts, clear roof by 6 to 12 feet

Install Cable(s) (priced to be done at the same time as the pruning) +345.00

Linden 17" (front right near garage) install one 1/4 inch lag hook cable (approx. 3 foot long) to support low large co-dominate branches
Linden 26" (right side) install three 1/4 inch eye nut cables (approx. 5 foot each) in a triangle pattern to support three low large co-dominate stems
terrene
13 years ago
I like all the trees, especially the Tilia americana. I've got several on this property, only 2 are of blooming size. I don't consider it a low value tree. The heart shaped leaves and graceful habit is attractive, the budding leaves and red-tipped branches are pretty in Spring, and the dangly blooms are fragrant and lovely. When mine blooms in June, it wafts in the open window during a mild Spring night. Bees and small butterflies love this tree. Fall color is blah and mine sucker at the base also, I just keep cutting off the sprouts.

I think yours would look nice when it is cleaned up. Not sure that it requires cabling. My largest one is about 40-50 years old and is growing with codominant leaders, and a crotch that holds water and debris, but it has not split. This tree is so tall and has been limbed up so that all the blooms are all up high. If you leave some lower limbs you can enjoy the blooms.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
13 years ago
About the putting cables on common residential trees, I just dont believe in it. Costs alot, is weird structurally. If the tree is that much a risk to come apart just put it out of its misery. I did that with a white ash that had a large double 'Y' for structure and a split in one.

Then again I am cheap. My new to me car is a 98MarkVIII.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
native .. schmative ....

so many facts.. too much coffee .... ooooooohhhhhhh ... dramatic moan ...

linden .. let me get this straight ... you have an otherwise healthy tree.. and this guy wants to .. on a preventative basis ... drill holes and add cables.. so that he can insure that you pay him every few years to come back a 'maintain' this threat to your garage ... sounds like a tuition investment program for his son in college.. or a repeating boat payment ... be done with it ... ITS A THREAT ...

the poplars ... get rid of them .. period ... figure out how to do it legally with the lot owner ... since you will have the tree guys out.. offer to pay for it ... since it will be a minor cost since they are there .... DO NOT RELY ON THE COURTS for you might be homeless for the few years it takes to sue them ...

the box elder .... i have a 50 footer .. what a carp tree ... horrible form .. ugly ... and those darn bugs ... harmless but irritating when they come in the house ... be done with it ... its just another maple.. and you should know my hated of such ...

the smaller ... if you were to keep it .. just cut off the two side ones.. and ignore the tree canopy reduction theory ... its a maple.. with no root zone impact from transplant/planting ... it will probably double in size in 2 years ... but i would still get rid of it ...

did i hit them all ... ???

was there an ash ... is not EAB an issue up there.. if so.. just get rid of the ash ....

if the team is there.. do everything that needs to be done .. its a lot cheaper than repeatedly calling them back ...

as i recall.. you have down-sized the property size .... and you need all the space you can get... on your new 1/2 acre ... WHY WASTE SPACE WITH THESE WEEDS .... native or not ... if you had 5 acres.. and more space than you need.. what the heck .. but we both know you can do so much better ...

the best upside.. this time of year.. the chips are all wood ... have them leave them.. and make some nice beds next spring ...

with my first house.. i 'saved' all the prior/original owners 'problems' for the history of it .... what a nightmare.. and the happiest day of my life at that house... was when the last was gone ...

YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER ... please... just bite the bit.. and be done with them ...

ken

PS: as you are addicted to gardening .... have no guilt.... as i am sure.. you will replace it all if not twice... mother earth on the plus side ...

Here is a link that might be useful: WI EAB
whaas_5a
Original Author
13 years ago
Appreciate all the commments so far. Interesting that it ranges from remove all to keep all.

Here is what I'm thinking at this point.

Linden(s):
I may just clean it up myself (including the basal sprouts). I'll inspect the included bark further and see which direction the tree would "likely" fall if it where to split. Not that he is the end all, be all but M. Dirr says to do everything you can to keep a native T. americana. I'm getting a second opinion next week from another arborist. If there is an arborist on the forum I can get additional pics before a suggestion is made. I was looking to get more feedback based on the value of the tree and the investment required to maintain such trees.

Poplar1:
Its coming down while I can mange the cut down myself.

Boxelder:
I'm going to clean it up and remove the left and right stems. Once I have some plants going (or need that spot) I'll cut it down before it becomes unmageable on my own.

Green Ash:
The tree looks healthy. The arborist asked what I thought about the tree as he may recommend EAB prevention. I said no way, nothing special about the tree (for me). He wanted $420 to cut it down. Unfortunately I can't do it as it is too close to multiple structures.

Poplar2:
I may just tell the lot owner I'm removing hazard trees and I would like to elimate the poplar at the same time and I'd pay for it...good suggestion.
botann
13 years ago
I'm with ken all the way on this one. Get em' out of your way! The sooner, the better. They will interfere with your planning as you put in new trees.
Mike
krycek1984
13 years ago
I would keep the tilius americana. I believe they are beautiful trees and I think that tree adds a lot to your property.

Pruning, Cabling and Removing Established Natives

Comments (9)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

whaas_5a
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Pruning, Cabling and Removing Established Natives

Comments (9)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

whaas_5aOriginal Author

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terrene

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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