sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
|  Any Arborist or other tree experts in the house?
carpenter ants here and higher |  |  | 
tree on right over wires |  |  |  |  |  |
I love this oak tree and the shade it provides is wonderful not to mention how it helps cool my house in the summer..Taking this tree down is not something I ever want to do but I am getting concerned about carpenter ants making it hollow as well as other disease destroying insects...The carpenter ants have been treated but come back and just in the past few weeks a lot of leaf branches are falling down and by the looks of the leafs it seems they are diseased...We have not had any rain in weeks so I am hoping that it is what is causing them to drop and the look of the leaf.
Two years ago I had it pruned but the guy wasn't an arborist or even a tree expert...He did tell me there was a 'boring' test that could be done to determine if the tree is getting hollow inside which would be a sign of bad news...Do anyone of you know of such a test?
I am going to call and have a professional Arborist come in within a week or two. In the meantime I am posting photos that I took just today and am hoping someone will be able to offer some advice/suggestions based on the photos. |
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treeman344
join:2003-07-04
Newark, OH
| Are you finding sawdust on or around the base of the tree? Carpenter ants don't usually show up unless the tree already has begun to decay.
The test is called a Resistograph, the only problem is the cavities or decayed areas may be in areas other than were the test holes are bored.
As far as the leaves go, it looks like leaf miner damage to me, easily treated by your local Arborist. |
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| I haven't noticed any sawdust on or around the base of the tree but all around the base is covered with hostas so I will take a good look tomorrow as I can't see the base now unless I pull apart and look down through the hostas.
The only real visible debris is on the first picture I posted above you can see some debris on the hostas leaves if you click on the photo. It looks to me like something is boring into the tree but yet it is not sawdust color if that makes any sense..
Approx 2 years ago I noticed that same kind of dark sawdust like stuff on the Hostas leaves and watched for awhile and saw carpenter ants crawling in a line up the tree..Had it sprayed back then but have noticed them back about 2-3 weeks ago. Is it possible for carpenter ants to bore into the oak tree enough to make it susceptible to falling? I know they don't eat wood like termites do but they do bore like termites and like damp areas.
Thanks for the name of that test and for sure I will have an Arborist come out soon...I appreciate your professional opinion and suggestions.
Thanks! |
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dennismurphy
Put me on hold? I'll put YOU on hold
Premium
join:2002-11-19
Parsippany, NJ
 ·Optimum Online
| said by sailor  Thanks for the name of that test and for sure I will have an Arborist come out soon...I appreciate your professional opinion and suggestions.
Thanks!
[/BQUOTE :Definitely give an arborist a call. Here's a great link from the ISA - International Society of Arboriculture. » www.treesaregood.com/treecare/hi···ist.aspxGive that a shot ... |
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sdgthy
@optonline.net
| reply to sailor
Not which, but it looks to be a member of the Red Oak family. A rather mature and, frankly, healthy looking. Although the trunk does lean quite a bit.
There may well be some rot behind that wound, but not the worst I've seen. I have a Scarlet Oak of similar height that about 75% of the trunk is rotted away. It's been trimmed so the weight should keep it from falling on the house and toward a safer area.
I suspect your's still has may years yet, but good move getting an arborist out to check on it. It probably will have to be removed eventually.
One hint, if it has heavy fruit every year, it may be stressed. |
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| reply to sailor
UPDATE Aug 9, 2008
Well this afternoon the general manager and arborist of a very well known tree company came out...he did the testing of the tree by going inside of it and then we both went over the read outs....he was here for just about two hours.
The tree, being probably over 100 years old is hollow in places and rotted on the interior and after giving it some more thought since I originally posted this I have decided to have the tree taken down.
The arborist feels it could possibly fall with any strong winds over 60 MPH. I am also very close to the Long Island Sound and we have brutal northeaster's at times which could also topple it..
Most everyone on my street has trees but they are on town property even though they are on the lawns but close to the curb...My tree is further in and on my property....If it fell it would cause havoc and I would be totally responsible so even though I hate to have it taken down and I will miss it and the shade that it provides I have to do what I feel is the best thing to do for the safety of my neighbors as well as those walking and driving by on the street in front of my house as that is the way it would fall..and finally due to the tree being so far damaged...especially by carpenter ant infestation.
I am looking at approx $4k and you will notice how the top of the tree goes well over the power lines as well as the tree extends over the street itself...The first step will be the power company will be contacted Monday and they will come out to look at the tree and have me sign off on them removing the parts of the tree over their wires...This will be done at their expense but they do not clean up what they will cut...the tree company will do that and then immediately after the power company is finished they will tackle the job...
While they take every precaution in taking the tree down I can expect some lawn damage...They will also clean up all the debris and my responsibility will be to keep people away from the work site as this is a huge tree and a big job.
I just wanted to give an update and include a couple of pics I took today and say thank you for those who replied when I originally posted this....
Once the tree is gone and I lose my shade I am going to plan on going solar as much as I can...I do have a question and that is for those of you who have had large trees taken down did you leave just the stump to put flower pots or whatever on or did you have them grind up and take the entire stump out?...As of now, I am just just going to have them leave the stump way down by ground level as I have something I would like to put on top of it.. |
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Ken
Premium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Brownsburg, IN
| A stump that big is going to take a long time to rot on it's own. I guess my feeling is if you are already spending $4K what's another $100 to $200 to have them grind the stump.
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My Business website: MerrittConstruction.com | My Gaming Website: KensGaming.com |
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| So you would then have them grind the stump? Yeah, couple hundred extra....I was thinking to leave it to put something on it decorative but now that I am thinking about it more maybe I will have them grind it...That way I could plant another tree there if I wanted to..Something smaller but something. |
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hitachi369
Embrace Your Rights
Premium
join:2001-10-03
Grand Rapids, MI
clubs:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to sailor
My Main Tree |
But what has to be done, has to be done. At least you are not just doing it to do it, like my neighbor. He cut down 2 established trees just to have a sunny front yard  Now my house gets more sun to. |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX | reply to sailor
It really sucks to say goodbye to a giant ass oak.
I think your doing the correct thing. Now think of it falling through you roof during a storm! |
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Jtmo
Premium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA | reply to sailor
Bummer, but lots of great firewood for this winter  |
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sempergoofy
Premium
join:2001-07-06
Smyrna, GA
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to sailor
It is awful to have to take down what appear to be healthy trees on the surface. Nothing is worse, though, than the aftermath of having them topple unexpectedly and hit a house, car, and possibly living beings when you could do the responsible thing as you are doing.
Shortly after buying our house, a tornado came through and twisted the tops out of many of the large pines in our yard. (Those with oaks had them toppled. Those with pines had the tops twisted out and dropped.) We were fortunate that there was only minor damage to the house that was easily repaired in contrast to neighbors with oaks. There is a sickly sweet smell that occurs when so many pine trees are ripped apart in a storm. I hate that smell. It always reminds me of devastation.
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nohup rm -fr /& |
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treeman344
join:2003-07-04
Newark, OH
edit:
August 10th, @11:03AM
| reply to sailor
said by sailor :So you would then have them grind the stump? Yeah, couple hundred extra....I was thinking to leave it to put something on it decorative but now that I am thinking about it more maybe I will have them grind it...That way I could plant another tree there if I wanted to..Something smaller but something. Personally I would have the stump ground, it will be a haven for the carpenter ants and other undesirables.
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| reply to hitachi369
said by hitachi369 :I don't know what I would do if I lost the main tree in my yard. RIP. But what has to be done, has to be done. At least you are not just doing it to do it, like my neighbor. He cut down 2 established trees just to have a sunny front yard Now my house gets more sun to. I sure didn't get a good nights sleep last night..This was a tough decision to make but a no brainer and I knew it would bother me greatly having to take it down but damn, didn't realize just how much it would bother me.....But at times we have to do things we don't really want to do.. |
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treeman344
join:2003-07-04
Newark, OH | reply to sailor
And do please post pics of the work in progress. We would likely use our crane on a tree that size.but manually can be interesting too. |
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| reply to mityfowl
said by mityfowl :It really sucks to say goodbye to a giant ass oak. I think your doing the correct thing. Now think of it falling through you roof during a storm! Yes and last month here on Long Island a man was driving home from his job and a oak tree fell down onto his car and crushed him to death. His wife came upon the scene..Just horrible...and that has stuck in my head because even though I don't get thru-traffic on my street as it is a cul-de-sac, there is traffic from neighbors and also many walk their dogs, kids in strollers etc....It would devastate me if my tree fell and hit someone walking by at the time....a child on a bike etc.....The tree being on my front yard is my responsibility and as much as I and many neighbors love the tree and the shade and cooling effect it provides, I just can't allow it to remain after having the arborist here yesterday.
___________
Here is the story about the guy I mentioned:
Jose Machicado was not one to arrive home late without calling first.
A custodian at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus, Machicado was supposed to get off work at 3 p.m. Saturday, but by 6:30 p.m. his wife, Sara, had not heard from him.
Feeling helpless, Sara Machicado anxiously drove to C.W. Post and then followed her husband's normal route from work to their home in Long Beach. What she found confirmed her worst fears.
On I.U. Willets Road, at the border of Roslyn Heights and Old Westbury, she saw police lights flashing around an accident scene.
She stopped her car and rushed to an officer.
"I tell them my husband's name and why I'm there," Sara Machicado said. "They let me inside the yellow tape and started talking to each other. I am just waiting, and then they came and showed me some pictures. It was my husband."
At 3:08 p.m., Nassau County police received a call saying a large oak tree had fallen on Jose Machicado's white Toyota Corolla, crushing its roof and instantly killing him. Part of the tree also fell on another car and injured a woman whose identity was not released, police said.
Born in Bolivia, Jose Machicado, 52, immigrated to the United States in 1981 and became a citizen, said his wife of 20 years. The father of two children, Sheila, 18, and David, 16, Machicado worked a number of jobs before becoming a custodian at C.W. Post three years ago, his wife said.
Sara Machicado said she had driven with her husband many times along his route to work, and they had often casually remarked to each other that the tree appeared to be unstable.
"It looked like it was going to fall down, but no one ever did anything about it," Machicado said.
Yesterday, it remained unclear who was responsible for maintaining the tree.
The tree, identified by residents as a pin oak, which appeared to be at least 20 feet tall, stood just outside a wooden fence built around the property at 472 I.U. Willets Rd. The property owner, Donna Paradise, did not return telephone calls yesterday.
County police and Town of North Hempstead officials said yesterday they were not sure if the tree was on town land.
"It is under investigation," said town spokesman Collin Nash. "We will look on Monday if there were any complaints about that particular tree."
Yellow police tape still surrounded the broken stump yesterday, and brown chalk showed the path of the tree's fall onto the westbound side of I.U. Willets Road. Drivers slowed down to look at the site, and bikers and pedestrians stopped and shook their heads.
"The tree was just part of the scenery. I never noticed it until now. What happened is so sad," said one neighbor, who declined to give her name.
The oak fell as Machicado was waiting in traffic to turn onto the Northern State Parkway. "If he had gotten to the parkway, he'd be home," said Sara Machicado.
»64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:Nl···=1&gl=us |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | reply to sailor
»www.arboristsite.com/index.php |
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| reply to treeman344
said by treeman344 :Personally I would have the stump ground, it will be a haven for the carpenter ants and other undesirables. Thanks, after thinking about it over night I believe I will now. The carpenter ants alone is enough reason to do so..Something I didn't think of right away. |
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sailor
Premium
join:2003-10-21
Long Island
| reply to treeman344
said by treeman344 :And do please post pics of the work in progress. We would likely use our crane on a tree that size.but manually can be interesting too. Yes, I will post pics.
I also have a question regarding the firewood that was mentioned early....I don't have a fireplace but a couple of neighbors do...When I was going over with the general manager yesterday regarding clean-up I asked him what if one or more of my neighbors wanted firewood how would that be handled. He told me if I wanted to they could have all the debris stacked near my curb and it would be up to me and the neighbors to take it all away....Which he wouldn't recommend as it is going to be a huge job and a dangerous one and he doesn't want anyone on or even near the job site. Near meaning standing on the street where the tree over-hangs as well as hanging over one immediate neighbors front lawn some.
They do total clean-up so it seems a neighbor if the wanted to would not be able to take say just 'some' wood...I will go over this again when I speak to the general manager tomorrow but it seems to me it is they will either pile everything up on my property and leave it or take it all away and clean up...One or the other ...no piece work here or there..
Can you shed some light on that for me treeman?
Thanks! |
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treeman344
join:2003-07-04
Newark, OH
| reply to sailor
Definitely no one in the work area while the job is in progress. if they are planning on using a crane,knuckle boom, or other heavy equipment to load the wood then they won't be cutting it to firewood size. still they should be able to set as much wood as you want off to the side, and you or your neighbors can cut it up later, or they would likely cut it for an additional fee. so no I don't understand the all or nothing statement. maybe he misunderstood what you wanted? |
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