Tree Value

DT86 · May 2, 2013

Gator6x4 said:
When someone said let there be light I threw the switch. I said that to say I am a long ways from being young. In my life time I have never seen a cherry tree that if cut down would measure 24 inches across the stump. Most cherry trees leave a 6-9 inch across stump when cut down.

Huh? I could show you several. I recently tore out some old fence line that had several grown through it which measured 20"+ across the stump.

dave1949 · May 2, 2013

Gator6x4 said:
When someone said let there be light I threw the switch. I said that to say I am a long ways from being young. In my life time I have never seen a cherry tree that if cut down would measure 24 inches across the stump. Most cherry trees leave a 6-9 inch across stump when cut down.

That's a big one, but in a lawn where it gets some fertilizer and maybe regular watering, I could see it.

I believe PA is the source of some of the finest hardwood furniture/cabinetry-grade lumber, including black cherry. I have a few black cherry here that exceed 14" and I am on the northern edge of its range. I have a lot of them in 6" range too, beanpoles reaching for the light.

Black cherry is not a good tree here though because the stems are always crooked and 98% of them are infested with black knot disease. That doesn't seem to affect the soundness of the log and most of the black knot cankers seem to be higher in the branches. But the crookedness makes them not very saw-able.

The leaves of black cherry are toxic to some farm animals, including sheep and goats.

newbury · May 2, 2013

In the eastern USA, typical black cherry (var. serotina) may reach 125 feet (38 meters) in height and 4 feet (1.2 meter) in diameter.

from
Black Cherry Prunus Serotina Seedlings

They get bigger than you think.

ptgdigger · May 2, 2013

I stripped and re-sided the house a few years ago, this is a two story plank house built in the early 20's, while I had it down to the bare planks I measured most of them , all 5/4 thick and widths from 14" to 33" , all cherry. There was a 30" wide plank that was just shy of 32' long, now if that tree was 30" @32 feet up how big did that baby have to be at the stump!

There are plenty of cherry trees on the property now that are 18" at the stump for sure.

Ray

dave1949 · May 2, 2013

newbury said:
from
Black Cherry Prunus Serotina Seedlings

They get bigger than you think.

They do.

I looked up the largest known Black Cherry in Maine. It is in Falmouth (just north of Portland in southern coastal area). In 2006 it had a circumference of 148" (47" dia.), 52' tall. That's one fat, stubby tree. :laughing:

Terra Joe · May 3, 2013

Gator6x4 said:
When someone said let there be light I threw the switch. I said that to say I am a long ways from being young. In my life time I have never seen a cherry tree that if cut down would measure 24 inches across the stump. Most cherry trees leave a 6-9 inch across stump when cut down.

The 24" was an estimate, but here is a pick of the stump.
Thanks for all of the great advice everyone. Definitely a few options i had not considered. I will start looking into some of these options, although I don't think I'm going to have much luck finding a replacement tree that size!

WayneB · May 3, 2013

We have a very large Black Cherry at our summer home and three years ago we had some septic tank work and the crew was at our place for two days working. I must of been asked ten times if I wanted them to cut down that tree while they were there. My answer was "no way”! And they kept saying that there was damage to the rood system and the tree will die. Well it has been three years and it is still standing and beautiful. This tree is over 40” diameter and must be close to 50’ high.

As for your situation I would suggest you contact a state forester and see if he can direct you to who you should speak to.

300UGUY · May 3, 2013

If it was a tree service, they weren't logging it, they just cut them up. Tree services around here don't have any equipment for handling logs. It might piss you off, but I'd just go buy a tree to replace it. You aren't going to get a lot of money for it. Around here, the wild cherry trees are basically weeds, and they aren't worth very much, unless you are talking several acres of trees. Logging 1 tree isn't cost effective.

DT86 · May 3, 2013

300UGUY said:
... It might piss you off, but I'd just go buy a tree to replace it. You aren't going to get a lot of money for it...

I think it's the principal of the matter, not the money. It was HIS tree and HE didn't want it chopped down.

deezler · May 3, 2013

Terra Joe said:
View attachment 316008 The 24" was an estimate, but here is a pick of the stump.
Thanks for all of the great advice everyone. Definitely a few options i had not considered. I will start looking into some of these options, although I don't think I'm going to have much luck finding a replacement tree that size!

Oh. See all that staining inside the meat of the tree? That's not good. Probably indicates there was a substantial amount of metal in the tree, which causes stains to run up and down the grain inside the trunk. That brings the timber value down quite a bit. And no sawmill would want to touch it, since they would pop blades on the metal.

Note: I am no expert on this.

I have several 20+" DBH Cherry trees on my property. I look forward to taking down a big straight one someday to make furniture, cabinets, or trim.