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| My wife and I recently moved from the city to a 2.5 acre plot. There is a stand of dead trees bordering the property around the lawn. They are starting to rot, the limbs have fallen off, and the bark is falling off. Every now and then one of them falls down.
What should I do with these trees? Should I cut them down? I have heard that it's better for the ecosystem of the land to let them decompose, but they are right on my lawn. Can I use them for firewood? I cut one up and can't tell if it's okay to use. Any thoughts? I'll post another pic of the tree after I cut it. Could I use them to make raised beds for veggies? Any advice is greatly appreciated...we are truly newbies when it comes to this stuff. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Here is one of the trees after I cut it. |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 14:20
| Yes, of course you could burn the wood. You could also use the straighter pieces to line bed edges. They will last for a while and then rot, enriching the soil in the process. As to leaving stand a dead snag or two, that is indeed helpful for a wide range of wildlife. But that must be balanced by safety concerns. If you or others spend much time directly under such dead trees, safety would of course be compromised. BTW, was this perchance a "wooded lot"? That is my biggest peeve about housing development-the lack of ethical concern for what all the dirt work, cutting, filling, trenching, etc. does to the trees. The developer walks away smiling on his way to the bank and everybody downline-except for companies that remove trees-are left with problems. It looks like a lot of fill was placed around these trees. That'll kill them. Sad to see this happening everywhere. +oM |
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- Posted by toronado3800 Z6 St. Louis (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 14:36
| Looks like you are plenty capable of cutting! Those are not small. I burn most of my dead limbs in a bon fire pit. Quality is of little concern there. For inside burning I assume you should try to use the choice pieces with little mush and few critters. It seems folks who have real fireplaces store their wood where there is decent airflow in an organized matter I assume to help it dry and stay dry. They also split it which seems like a pain. Hey, you gonna plant anything there to replace them? Google Dawn Redwood, one of my favorites. You can leave the lower branches on for that gnarly trunk or limb them up for a smoother refines look. |
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| From your posting it is still unclear to me if the trees are actually on your property or border it on public property. Obviously, you could not legally remove them if not on your property, if they ARE on your property, then I personally would have them removed. It looks from the pic that you could safely do it on your own, but having once suffered a stupid chain saw accident (not that serious), I would have a service do it and as they are big trees, should not be that costly. I hear what you are saying about benefits to the ecosystem and I believe this to be true. Owls, for example like to nest in the bigger ones. So, seeing them around me does not bother me. I am just careful when too near them because larger limbs do occasionally fall randomly. I will say they do seem to fall...decompose... disappear, faster than you may think. Good luck! |
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| Wow...thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it. Now I feel confident taking them down and clearing the area. wisconsitom: The lot was developed 30 years ago. I'm not sure what they did and what was done to clear it. The lot is 90% lawn with trees around the edges and a forest adjacent. It was previously part of a sheep/horse farm (and I have found a part of their garbage dump). There are a few mature willows, apples, and pears in the lawn as well (probably planted when developed). I agree it is sad to see "wooded lots" that were handled improperly, but the totally clear cut ones planted with japanese maples make me cringe even more. toronado3800: We are going to plant something to replace them, but I might put a patio there in the meantime with some smaller bushes, etc. around it. Then plant a few trees behind it. It would be pretty crazy to have a redwood, but I'm not sure there's enough space there. There is a swale about 15 meters behind the stand. njoasis: the trees are indeed on my property and I did have an estimate for a service to remove them. Sadly, it was over $3,000, so I'll be a cutting pro by the end of this...lol. |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 17:12
| Mcleester, sounding like a good plan. I would suggest to take pro-level safety standards to heart when operating power saws. For instance, wear Kevlar (Or equivalent) chaps. Read up-if you haven't already-on proper felling technique. It is oh so worth the bother to handle saws correctly! +oM |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 18:56
| I did have an estimate for a service to remove them. Sadly, it was over $3,000, so I'll be a cutting pro by the end of this ==>>> no.. no..no ... presuming these are a threat to no one .... find someone who will make them fall down for $250 - 500 ... this is a one man job.. that a good man can do inside and hour or two .. he will not need a crew of 6 guys and 12 hours to chip it all up .. etc ... i often find that the power company guys.. do this kind of work on the side .... simply stop and ask them ... you do NOT need a certified pro.. to make things go boom.. lol ... and then you do the rest ...as you obviously have a chainsaw ... its the art on not crushing yourself.. that is worth $250 - 500 ... otherwise... why spend the money to cut it up and dispose of it ??? at worst.. it can be piled up.. and left tot eh decades .. it would be a fascinating show to watch.. as mother earth slowly reclaims it .... the only wood that wont burn .. is rotting wood.. too much water ... and check with your local city .. as to burning what you dont want/need ... heck.. you might even try those local listing places.. angies list.. craig.. bruce.. whatever.. lol ... ken |
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| I would recommend felling them yourself and using the money for something nice in the yard. By taking them down before a storm does you can drop them where you want them, not into another tree like the storm did mine. Pick the ones on the outside first, so they can be dropped away from and out of the others. Take time to study each tree, determine if it is symmetrical and how the weight of the tree is distributed. Once you thoroughly understand the tree, on a nearly wind less day, start cutting them down. Carefully make a wedge cut on the side you want the tree to fall. Make sure the back of the wedge, (the hinge) is oriented to fall where you want. Just like a door, the tree will be directed as the hinge is directed. If there is a question where it will fall or if you are unsure of the weight distribution, put a long rope as high up the tree as possible. Use a piece of wood to reach that extra height. Then on the end of that extra long rope have two people put pressure to move the tree in the right direction. It is quite satisfying to drop the tree where you planned, cut it up and then split the pieces. I like to see my axe come down and see the piece go in opposite direction. Then there are the woods that don't go in any direction. If you have no need for the wood place a sign in front offering the wood free to a good home. If that fails rent a chipper and make mulch for your yard. You will still be less that your original estimate. |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 22:00
| From the picture, there appear to be at least a couple of them that are already little more than stubs. Those will be easy. BTW, do you know what species these were/are? +oM |
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- Posted by hairmetal4ever Z7 MD (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 14:07
| That's why, as much as I enjoy trees, I'd rather buy a home on a treeless plain of lot than wooded - you never know if the trees in those woods are slowly dying due to construction disturbance, etc. Plus, with a blank lot, I can plant things exactly where I want and the kind I want... |
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| It's kinda nice to start out with something and work with it, rather than buy it all cut down and start fresh. As a Landscaper, I did a lot of both. I always preferred garden makeovers as opposed to new construction.
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| The problem with starting on a blank canvas, clear cut lot, is that you will never see the results of what you created. If you plant a tree it will be decades before the tree is mature enough to provide the regal proportions that the tree is capable. Same for some small shrubs like azaleas, crepe myrtle, and the like. Look at the shrubs in your clear cut lot and compare it to the old house down the road. Whose yard is the best? |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 15:59
| i wonder.. what liability there is for you all to be suggested this kind of risk for someone who admits they have no experience ... crimminey .... what else would you suggest.. a 12 pack of blue ribbon to fortify himself.. before he starts the chainsaw ...??? HIRE SOMEONE to make them fall down ... ken |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Mon, Aug 6, 12 at 17:52
| I find it odd that Hairmetal's comments immediately got everyone thinking only of two possibilities-a "wooded lot" or a lot that was previously wooded but has been cleared completely. Are there not already open, treeless lots? Rhetorical question BTW. +oM |
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