Those look like some sort of pine... yes? They are famous for shallow rooting and falling over. If you have any of that species towering over the cabin, then by all means, seek to have them removed.

Unfortunately, tree removal in most parts of the country has become expensive. And, if they are located above the house, power lines, or in other precarious spots, the cost is understandable. If you want shade trees, seek out an aborist who can give advice on species that are well-rooted, long living, and will do well in your region. There are many trees that will do well in such locations. But, safety first... it looks like your propane tank was almost a casualty. Even if it didn't explode, it would have been a scary, and costly, accident!

I would leave the ones that are out of the area of potential damage alone. Let them cull themselves over time. That's the life cycle of the forest. As they fall, you can either control what regrows by planting something more suited to safe habitation, you can let another one of the same species fill the sunlight space naturally, or you can repurpose the land for garden or whatever you like.

I personally don't like to clear many trees - in my eyes, that defeats the purpose of rural, lakeside cabin living. However, I do like to have enough sunlight for a garden, and as mentioned, a safe space for people and structures.

Oh, and why remove the leaves around the living trees? Do you just see it as 'unsightly'? Are you wanting a lawn? Leaves are the food for the forest. Remove them and you'll be changing the soil structure. Just the building work and tree removal is already changing the soil structure. Learn about how the ecosystem works or you'll find that you've moved to area because of the way it looks and feels, but at the same time, destroying that which you sought out. If you do make such changes, do so purposefully, and with sustainability in mind. Not just for Earth-friendly living, but for practical maintenance and lake-side appeal.

I’m going to have to reread this. He’s only cutting one live tree—-the one hovering over the camp. And he’s saving the leaves for mulch, right?

Something about the last picture make's think you have a rainwater run off problem. Soil appear's eroded next to concrete. Saturated soil might be reason trees are falling.

they are dying in tree time ...

and they are very large to be so close to the house/structure ...

so i am wonder if its a construction issue ... however long ago ...

since you are in the forest ... i would leave them right where they fell ... [btw.. did you note if they made any sound when they did.. lol] ...

it would be interesting over the next decades ... to watch how they are naturally reclaimed into the forest floor ...

same with any you are thinking of felling ... if they can be made to fall down without seriously injuring any other trees ... plop goes the weasel ... felling a tree is a lot cheaper than total removal .... but i would be sure to have a fully insured professional do it ... cletis and his favorite chainsaw might not be the best choice

ken

I hear mulch is good for trees so since the tree pro is going to be chopping up smaller branches- I thought that was better 'mulch' than the wet leaves. So the idea is to clear the wet leaves and add fresh grinded up tree branches.

With regard to saturated soil, you are probably right. The ground is mostly soaked and I'm trying to figure out the best way to push water away from the house from the other side- it slopes down as you get closer to the lake. Again, first cabin property and not sure at all how to go about maintaining the trees/land so any insight is welcome.

FYI, the tree pro is removing 5 trees that have already fallen and also cut down and remove 2 trees that are ready to fall and block the driveway and cut down and remove 1 more which is the dangerous one lurking/bent directly over the cabin. I want to clear the land and then take care of the remaining trees/land.

honestly, the property looks downright scary w/ so many huge, live-looking trees that have fallen all over the property.

dont want to discuss the construction issue??? .. if not.. thats fine .... just making sure you saw it ...

ken

ok, clickbait, what other issue are you talking about?

Not to answer for Ken, but I think he is suggesting that during the excavation for your house you may have severed some of the supporting root system, specifically the one directly adjacent to your stepped footing.

ok... what does that mean moving forward? Is there a solt'n?

As for mulch... leaves (wet or dry) ARE mulch. For the health of the forest, leaves make a much better mulch than wood chips. Wood chips make good mulch in certain areas, but I'm not sure what purpose they would serve in a wooded area. And, if you spread wood chips, it will be that much harder to deal with next year's leaves because they'll be on wood chips and whether you rake, or blow, wood chips will go everywhere.

So... the question remains... why remove the leaves? Like I said, if you're just going for a certain look, that's your choice... but for far longer than any human has walked this Earth, trees have been doing quite well using leaves as mulch.

I use wood chips as mulch in the paths of my garden. For that purpose, they are fantastic. Leaves, though, are the mulch I use on the garden beds for the winter. They are far more beneficial for the ground than wood chips. Watch the birds. Especially during nesting season, they will flip leaves around to find insects to feed their young. Why? Because leaves give a natural home to the life of the forest floor. And that is the health of the forest. If you do chip some of that wood, then sure, put it where you want, but you don't have to remove the leaves unless you see them as unsightly. You could just add the chips to the leaves.

The only reason that people remove leaves from lawns is because they want the look of the planting. Leaves can smother some plantings, but generally, it's a cosmetic thing. In fact, the healthiest of lawns are those where the leaves are mulched in place - allowing them to feed the soil web.

It comes down to why you want to do something. Just reading that wood chips make good mulch does not mean they are better for the trees than leaves. It's very difficult to do better than nature. You can manipulate your land as you want, but for the long-term health of the trees and the forest, you just cannot beat leaves.

Like I said above... by all means, create a safe space for you and your family, but trees fall all the time. A fallen tree can even help with soil runoff - making a barrier to protect the forest floor. They host all kinds of beneficial organisms. I have lots of fireflies here. Their larvae live under decaying wood and eat all manner of pest. If there's nothing to be hurt, I would let things happen naturally. Personally, I see no reason to remove fallen trees unless they are in the way of something relatively important, but perhaps that's just me.

Chipped wood is great to improve soil health because it breaks down through fungi. But I too think it should just be put on top of the leaves. All the organic matter in the topsoil in your forest came from leaves. Or use it on paths and gardens, etc.

I didn't read every post fully but someone said felling a tree is much cheaper than completely removing. So if you were going to have them chip up the entire tree, rethink that. Let them return to the soil, or let someone get them for firewood or sawmilling. The tops are more messy and nothing wrong with chipping those - should be a lot less cost.

scottonfire

"I want to clear the land and then take care of the remaining trees/land."

Unsure if you meant to clear it of trees to create a lawn or just to clear it of the fallen leaves? If clearing for a lawn, you will be fighting a never ending battle with the forest. A lawn in an unnatural system, especially in a woods. Also sort of defeats the purpose of buying a house in a woods just to clear the trees for a lawn. If you meant just to clear the fallen trees, I would leave some of them in place though I totally understand removing the fallen ones right next to the house. The others I would let nature break down or allow animals to make use of in the mean time.

Another option with the chipped wood is to find discreet locations to just put it in big piles. It will make great compost in about three years. Maybe two if you turn it occasionally.