Limbing a tree

[pdxman]

Okay Arborist's, have a tree (large fir) that has branches that block my view of Mount Hood from our living room windows. I don't want to drop the tree soley for the purpose of gaining a view. The tree is in a hard to get to spot anyway and I have plently firewood as it is. My Father-in-law brought a logger friend up last week to limb it. There were many dead branches that he had to clean up before getting to anything green. I wasn't there when it was done but the final result was that he did not go high enough. Basically quit when his saw ran out of gas but also had said that he'd kill the tree if he went much further up. There are about 3-4 large branches that still block the view I am looking for. These branches are about at the bottom of the top third of the tree. This guy's expertise is dropping trees and not sure if he was just saying that to avoid having to climb down, refill saw, and go back up. Anyone have a rule of thumb on the limitations of limbing?

"He who dies with the most toy's....wins!"

 

[MossRoad]

Will the view of the tree still be enjoyable?

<font color=green> MossRoad </font color=green>

 

[pdxman]

I don't think it would take away from the appearance of the tree or make it look like a giant arrow.

I did try to take a photo with my cheapo digital camera to show reference but it only focuses well on closer images.

"He who dies with the most toy's....wins!" <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by pdxman on 12/28/01 01:10 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Anonymous Poster]

<font color=blue>...said that he'd kill the tree if he went much further up...</font color=blue>

Something similar happened about ~15 years ago... one of my buddies top tree men started to come down, when the customer on the ground yelled up to trim this "one more limb"...

I was told the wind had started to pick up, and as the tree guy went to adjust his harness and go up higher... the wind whipped, his safety harness was not snapped back in place and he slipped and fell to the ground and broke his back...

In my whole life, I'd never seen my friend cry like he did then... his best worker was forever paralyzed...

 

[pdxman]

It is very dangerous, no doubt. Thats one reason why it costs some good$ to get someone to do it.

This logger told my father-in-law he knows someone that accidently cut through his steel lined strap enough to make him fall. Wasn't paralyzed, but did get busted up pretty bad though.

"He who dies with the most toy's....wins!"

 

[beenthere]

One sure way to find out if he is right (or wrong) is to saw the limbs off. You can enjoy the view while running the test, and if the tree dies, then it will no longer be a problem tree. How are you going to get up there to saw them off?

 

[gordon]

If you take to many limbs off a tree at one time it can put it into shock and end up killing the tree. Depends alot on the tree, it's health before pruning. Once again some people say no more that 1/4 at a time some say 1/3 and others will top the entire tree. Go figure.

Here is a good link on how to prune a tree, gives the basics.http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_prune/addinfo.htm#guidelines

Or another option you have is to ask the same question here.http://www.forestryforum.com

Good luck
Gordon

 

[pdxman]

beenthere; This tree is BIG. Probably the biggest on my property. Not sure if I am accurate in guessing height, but would say maybe it's 150-200 feet tall?? I'll have to pay someone to climb it again. The logger charged me $250 for an 1 1/2 hours work. May sound like a lot but is fairly cheap. One estimate I had done was for $300 but when the guy went down there and got a good look, came back wanting $600 because of its size and the number of dead branches to remove. Next guy I get will have it much easier as the dirty work is done.

Gordon; Thanks. Good website.

"He who dies with the most toy's....wins!"

 

[pdxman]

This is a picture of the tree I took today....

 

[JJT]

Nice picture, but I don't see a tree, just a polar bear in a snow storm...