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| Hi Everyone,
I believe i'm faced with having to cut down this lightning damaged oak in my back yard. Does anyone think this tree can be saved, and any tips on how to go about that? The rot in the center was inhabited by black ants, but they now seem to have moved on. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Have you solicited any local, professional opinions? That is the best approach and I would recommend asking at least two arborists (not just tree guys). |
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| I did have the local forest service guys stop buy and take a look, but I don't think they are arborists. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 9, 12 at 14:04
| NO IT CAN NOT... but being an oak.. it could stand there for decades.. before it dies or falls down ... you do need to pay for an onsight inspection by a certified arborist ... or just take it down.. if it is overhanging a house ... yours or the neighbors ... and no.. you cant putty it up .. lol ... ken |
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- Posted by toronado3800 Z6 St. Louis (My Page) on Mon, Jul 9, 12 at 14:32
| That tree is trying amazingly hard to encapsulate the wound. Too bad the critters and elements had access to that wound for so long. As Ken said, if it is over your home or collectable car get rid of it. Now if it was in my woodline away from things I might let it be for a decade or two. You should see this large hollow tree on the north side of I-70 in St Charles. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 9, 12 at 15:26
| i would like to meet the guy who left that one foot stump at center 9 oclock and slap him upside the head .. same if it was a woman lumberjack ... ken |
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| Yeah, stubs are the first sign of an amateur. What surprises me, is that how did an amateur get that high and not kill himself? I'd say the tree is a goner...at least if it were mine, no matter where it was. If a tree is gonna come out of the sky I wanna to be in charge of where it falls. Mike |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 9, 12 at 18:43
| What surprises me, is that how did an amateur get that high and not kill himself? ==>> maybe he was doing it when the lightning hit.. lol ken |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Mon, Jul 9, 12 at 22:40
| This is a good example of the difference between biological lifespan and useful lifespan to a human who owns a tree. This tree could indeed linger, in a living state, for decades to come. But as it's in your yard, you have more to concern yourself with than the tree's mere survival. You also have safety to think about. And that tree is going to be unsafe from here on out. +oM |
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| One thing for CERTAIN, rO, there's no way that we can offer much useful advice about the prognosis of this tree with one picture of a small portion of your tree. Time to call out the experts. ISA certified arborists will cite their credentials in their ads. |
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| Define "saved". If you are asking whether it can keep going for some years to come, the answer is yes. If you are asking if its can heal that big scar, the answer is probably no. If its not in danger of falling on anything (yours or a neighbors) then I might let it be. If its near a house you should probably get rid of it. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, Jul 10, 12 at 8:53
| what we all mean.. if this were in a park.. golf course .. forest ... would it make a sound when it fell down.. probably.. but who cares ... if it comes crashing thru the roof and killing you while you sleep.. it will probably be the last thing you hear.. if at all .. hows that for 14 year old girl drama.. lol .. actually the 10 year old boy is worse ... the issue are the RISKS involved .. better not let the insurance agent see it .. lol ... ken |
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| Looks like a red-type oak. If so, the wood isn't as durable as a white-type oak (pretty apparent from the rotting). Comes down to how much potential damage it could do -- close to your house, other trees, etc. Like Ken says, could live for many decades. |
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