If you cut down ever tree that could possible fall on your house, car, or whatever, you'd end up with a pretty barren looking yard wouldn't you? Is there something particular about the tree that's worrying you, or do just have a tree-phobia? If there is some reason you suspect the tree is likely to fail, get an ISA certified arborist out to take a look.

Well, based solely on these pix and being many miles away...

Is the leader on the left the one leaning towards the house? The other looks to be in line with the trunk and probably not a problem. Is water bleeding from the trunk below where the crotch is? As Brandon suggests, an arborist could determine if removing a leader, the tree or if cabling would be in order.

tj

Liable to split at the fork, but it should be possible to cable-brace the two stems so this can't happen. Expensive, but worth it if you like the tree.

Resin

Resin,
You hit the nail right on the head.
Splitting at the fork. Dual leader.
Well, considering the fact that I absolutley love this tree, and it has been here for awhile, long before the new home was built, and it hasn't split yet,
I guess I will live life on the edge and say to myself if it hasn't split up to now, then I guess it's OK.
In the future I will have an expert look at it, not a tree cutter, an arborist to give me his opinion.
Thank you for your responses.

Wow. I'm usually the one to urge leaving the tree stand. But that IS a classic weak crotch. Still, I think removing one half might be the best option.

+oM

Specimen is much to far along to cut half of it away. Cable it or cut it down, if there is something in the way.

Bboy, you are correct...I thought about my response later, given in haste, and yes, there is high probability that the union between the two competing stems is lacking in any sort of branch collar, thus, poor or nonexistent wound closure following removal.

Leave it be if you can tolerate the risk, or remove entirely.

+oM

Cutting down the tree improves your chances of living to 90 by 0.0001%. Leaving it there likely improves those same chances more significantly for a variety of different reasons. Unless it looks like it's imminently falling, leave it there.

My two cents anyways.

Note: These statistics are taken directly from my arse and don't have any legal value.

if it were mine.. i would be rid of it..

if not for the threat to the house... but because i see all the potential for so many better things in that area ....

i would speculate that it is a classic case of clearing a small plot in a mature forest.. and inserting a house.. and then the trees left fail.. due to a multitude of reasons....

if this tree failed.. in the forest.. would it make a sound???? if it falls on you.. the house.. the car... will it make a sound????

be done with it

ken

Splitting at the fork? Well, maybe yes, maybe no. How likely trees are to split at V shaped forks depends on the kind of tree.

Everyopne knows elm trees that produce these V shaped forks as a part of their normal growth habit, and seldom split. As for pine trees, some kinds will split rather often, other kinds of pine trees virtually never split. For example, on my timberland I have thousands of red pine, white pine and Norway spruce. The white pine and Norway spruce will often split, but I have never, ever seen any of the red pine trees split--not a one, in spite of having dozens with forks.

So, what you need to do is determine the kind of pine you have, and then do some observations of the same kind of pine tree elsewhere in your area. Do you see others that have split? Or do you see a lot of trees forked much like yours doing just fine?

Not all trees are alike.

--Spruce

Spruceman,
I have looked at hundreds of these pine trees that are growing everywhere here, I have many also, I have not seen one that is split like this.
Still standing anyway.
That is why I was worried.
Ken, you are right, they built a small new house a year ago and left the forest standing.
This tree is extremely close to my house.
If it was in the back of the property, and even if it fell, it wouldn't crush my house, I wouldn't care and would enjoy the tree.
Drats, why does it have to have 2 leaders like that?
Beautiful tree though.
Shame.

Looks like a Loblolly Pine; not sure what their record for splitting is.

Not too clear from the pics, but there appears to be a bit of swelling to the sides of the fork, indicating the formation of some cross-grain, but whether enough for adequate strengthening of the fork, don't know. I'd still be investigating cable-bracing.

Resin

I have white pines, but as it was determined above this is a different pine. White pines are brittle and therefore relates to your problem. During an ice storm you can drive through a pine forest and hear the branches break, not trunks (1986 north of Boston). We had an ice storm 10 months ago, and I tell you that branches do not fly to your house, but gravity lets them fall straight down.

2 of my 4 white pines have V crotches and none ever has broken there. I had pines pruned over the last 22 years I live here and non of the certified arborists suggested cutting off one of the leaders at a V. I can imagine that branches are much more first to go, and there is no leverage ice will have on those vertical leaders, speaking as an engineer.
Bernd

I would say it is a longleaf pine - given the site and the appearance. If so, it will likely be fine. Loblolly is weaker and more prone to rot, however.

in the fact that a spot was clear cut for the house... is where the problem is ...

when it was surrounded by a bunch of other trees .... it was protected from wind ... and was able to prosper .. since the risk of wind damage was borne out by the group ...

now that it is hanging out there by itself .... all it needs is one good blow ... and you have problems ... isnt SC in hurricane zones ... heck.. we get wind storms from hurricanes up here in MI .... maybe you arent coastal where the storm will hit you directly... but NOTHING stops wind ...

as you yourself said : This tree is extremely close to my house.

i dont really care what kind of pine it is.. FOR PIECE OF MIND.. regarding your new house.. be done with it ...

you can fall in love with replacements...

good luck

ken