Well, when you decide to plan(t) trees. . .

[beowulf]

Unfortunately, I have had to learn this lesson the hard way - be careful where you decide to plant trees. We used to buy live xmas trees and then plant them after the holidays. We did not think much about where we planted them. Now decades later I am finding a need to remove them - four so far - each between 50-60 feet high, and more I will need to trim. I am not even sure how I am going to handle some of this.

Two were removed because they blocked views we once enjoyed, and two more because they were too near the house - a risk of damage in a storm, or if a fire. A huge amount of work to do this. Years ago I also had to remove about 5-6 other large trees but those were not ones that I planted.

Anyway, as my daughter and son-in-law are planning their home building on a hilltop on our property, I shared my advice to take great care in their landscaping choices - trees you plant will become huge with unwanted consequences. I could have done so much better had I been a bit smarter and planted those trees elsewhere on the property.

 

[oosik]

We never planted anything too close to the house or outbuildings. However - I do wish I would have taken down a couple really big Ponderosa pines before the house was built. They are approximately 50 feet from the house. But being 100+ feet tall they could present a problem.

Live and learn.

 

[turnkey4099]

I made the same mistake when I bought this place...approx an acre with a small house. Planted 20 odd spruce, 10 black walnut, 8 shademaster locust (thornless), a couple birch and several fruit trees... I have so far removed and pay to have removed 8. The Black Walnuts were the worst mistake, very poor choice for a small lot. The spruce were for noise and wind screen. I'm right next to a major state highway. They do cut the noise down a bet but not as much as I hoped.

The next people why buy this will probably remove all the BW but they will at least be passable firewood size and maybe all the spruce.

 

[ruffdog]

My property was going to be a x-mas tree farm (previous owner) and the property was 60% evergreens. The trees were on a 7 foot grid so it was quite thick. I got rid of most of them around the house and the others got big. The Scotch pine were dying and the Blue Spruce had needlecast. I had a tree removal company come in and cut/chip the two types of trees (1800) and it really opened the view up. I still have row sections of nice healthy trees that the critters still enjoy. We had 2 fawns this year.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Yeah, if I had known 40 years ago what I do today, I would be at least $5000 richer by saving all of the tree work...and it's not over yet.

 

[jjp8182]

Yeah, I know that problem to as I'll have to deal with some similar sort of things as a result of previous owners (haven't planted any replacements on my current property just yet).

Have already taken out one 18-ish diameter oak because it was starting to rot and be overshadowed by a pair of larger oaks. Have another 16-ish inch diameter one that I'll likely need to drop sometime soon as well.

....though there's a couple I think I'll probably end up leaving for the future owners unless they become a more serious problem. A couple of the oak trees on the property have gotten to be 30+ inches in diameter (one is getting close to 3.5 to 4 ft in diameter) and are way too close for to the house for my preference for the long term.

It's made me realize that (in some ways) trees are rather like exotic pets in that most people don't consider how big they'll get and what attention they'll need (or dangers they'll pose) when they mature to full size.....

So as much as I love having trees in the yard, I'd rather not plant any tree closer to a structure than the tree's expected mature height (particularly when it comes to inhabited structures). While a person can get away with planting them closer, it makes me rather uncomfortable especially in a region where tornadoes (or other storms) routinely bring trees crashing down.

 

[ruffdog]

Yeah, if I had known 40 years ago what I do today, I would be at least $5000 richer by saving all of the tree work...and it's not over yet.

I could have saved $23k by using a hand pruning saw 26 years ago too. Too bad they don't sell crystal balls on ebay.

 

[Username Taken]

The new tree might cost $50 - $200.

Taking it out 20 years later can cost $1,500 - $2000

And people make the mistake of planting "fast-growing'' trees which, many times aren't nearly as attractive.

Anymore, if I can't eat the fruit it bears, I don't fool with it.

Although there are some seriously beautiful trees that don't bear fruit to consider. I had a Royal Poinciana taken out by Hurricane Charley. She was just coming into her own, too. depressing

 

[two_bit_score]

Little consolation but misery loves company.

I’m glad to have a lot of company in regretting that I failed to take out some trees when they were small.

I see real estate agents constantly extolling the “shady tree covered lots” and trees within a few feet of houses. Some without any easy way to get in there to remove them. It’s almost criminal.

 

[jaxs]

The only trees I've removed after having planted them fall under one of two catagories. Fast growing planted at same time near slow growing/long life trees. When perminate tree is large enough to furnish shade,fast growing tree is removed. Then of course some I planted with intent to keep became storm damaged or otherwise made less desirable. I've always marveled at how many land parcels would be without trees had birds not pooped Hackberry seeds from fences and power lines.

 

[Sigarms]

I'm still trying to figure out why people plant trees under power lines. Down the road a couple of miles, a guy planted leyland cyprus trees in a straight row at the end of his property running parallel tot he road, and that row of trees running directly under a power line running parallel to the road as well. When they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap.

 

[ponytug]

We should have jackets for the club. We have some big bay trees near the house. Even trimming is pricey.

Have a look at August Hunicke's YouTube channel if you want to see some creative ways to remove trees in tight areas. East side tree removal has some pretty interesting tight quarter tree removals. (e.g. Backyard Doug Fir Removal Part 1) I assume that there are talented folks around here, too, but I have never seen anyone local use the roping techniques for dropping limbs shown in these videos. One local team does use arboreal ropes to move around in the trees, so no more tree climbing spikes/spurs.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'm still trying to figure out why people plant trees under power lines. Down the road a couple of miles, a guy planted leyland cyprus trees in a straight row at the end of his property running parallel tot he road, and that row of trees running directly under a power line running parallel to the road as well. When they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap.

>Then they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap<

yep - here in Georgia power company will help you out more than that. My SIL decided she wanted to plant 120 of them - UNDER the power lines. Good fertilizer and plenty of water and viola!, within 5 years she had 25' tall Leland Cyprus trees. The power company gave her 1 week to top them - or else. Next week they came out and dropped all 120 to the ground.

At that same time I also planted 20. 10 died due to my lack of doing the fertilizer and water thing. The remaining 10 are now 8 years old and up to about 20' tall. On the upside, none are under power lines. Beautiful trees, but they do require a little forethought when planting them.

 

[TractorGuy]

My sister and wife planted a crepe myrtle right smack dab in the entrance of our drain field. Guess what? A new drain field routed beside the old was $2500. I removed the tree but they wouldn't even talk about bypassing the clog and repairing the old. If I would have had my backhoe back then I would have just fixed it myself. I was able to dig the tree out with my old 855 and probably could have fixed it myself with that but it would have been a lot of digging and work and the drain field already had some age on it.

 

[Sigarms]

At that same time I also planted 20. 10 died due to my lack of doing the fertilizer and water thing. The remaining 10 are now 8 years old and up to about 20' tall. On the upside, none are under power lines. Beautiful trees, but they do require a little forethought when planting them.

If I plant any myself, they will be staggard and at least 10' apart, not the 5' I've read. Guy who put about 150 here for privacy did all the watering with irrigation hose, but once they start growing taller AND wider, need more space IMO. I get the fact that people what the limbs of the other trees touching each other for more privacy, but think they would last longer if people gave them more space.

 

[two_bit_score]

>Then they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap<

yep - here in Georgia power company will help you out more than that. My SIL decided she wanted to plant 120 of them - UNDER the power lines. Good fertilizer and plenty of water and viola!, within 5 years she had 25' tall Leland Cyprus trees. The power company gave her 1 week to top them - or else. Next week they came out and dropped all 120 to the ground.

At that same time I also planted 20. 10 died due to my lack of doing the fertilizer and water thing. The remaining 10 are now 8 years old and up to about 20' tall. On the upside, none are under power lines. Beautiful trees, but they do require a little forethought when planting them.

WOW! They were serious!

 

[beowulf]

Have a look at August Hunicke's YouTube channel if you want to see some creative ways to remove trees in tight areas.

Thanks ponytug for the video. Interesting to see them do that. I took out another one yesterday - 64 feet high. The shot of the de-branched trunk was after I already took off about 15 feet off the top - I had to climb the tree to get that done as the ladder only went so far. I then took off another 10 feet or so and then dropped the rest of it using straps and the tractor to guide where it fell. This one was about 18 feet from the house. Trunk 28" where I cut it.

 

[Sigarms]

WOW! They were serious!

They weren't serious, they were smart.

Have a line running to the back field for a light. Power company said they wanted to trim the tree directly under that line, I told them just to take it completely out. They only trimmed the tree. Guess what trees do? They grow.

Now, trees may grow slowly when "topped off" at the top to ensure enough clearance under a power line, and one tree over the span of 5-10 years may not be too bad to handle, BUT... you have 120 trees to top off, it may take a little longer to cut everything to the stump, but it sure will save you a lot of time over the next 50 years.

My only problem with the power company is they don't seem to have standards as to what is to be expected when brush / trees are taken down. They sub it out which is another issue...

Save yourself the headache, don't plant trees under a power line.

 

[Sigarms]

East side tree removal has some pretty interesting tight quarter tree removals. (e.g. Backyard Doug Fir Removal Part 1) I assume that there are talented folks around here, too, but I have never seen anyone local use the roping techniques for dropping limbs shown in these videos. One local team does use arboreal ropes to move around in the trees, so no more tree climbing spikes/spurs.

All the best,

Peter

Pete, thanks for the video!

Thing is, it's only a tree.

Guy gives you a quote of $250 vs $2,500 to take down ONE tree, who you going with? (throw insurance out the window because real men don't need insurance because they know what they're doing, at least in NC!).

In all seriousness, had a bunch of river birches taken down that was hanging over our roof. I was completely amazed of the skill of a couple of the guys doing the climbing, cutting and rope work.

Guys doing the climbing were busting on "tree companies" with bucket trucks, and with their skill, rightfully so IMO. Guess it's easier to find guys who can cut limbs in a bucket truck vs climbing and knowing what you're doing.