Anyone who's been reading this blog for a few years knows I have quite a few giant oak trees on my property and we try to do something to at least one of them each year to try and make them last a bit longer.
All the tree's are in their later years but some are in worst states than others. Luckily for me my brother is a tree surgeon so performing this work is usually done for a swap of my trade, or just because he's such a nice brother!
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| The poor shape of the tree. |
He came with his friend and fellow tree climber, Chris, last Saturday and they set to work straight away. This is a tree that's by the road and I think it's been struck by lightening in the past. Lots of dead wood and straggly branches.
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| Putting the line in the tree |
Luckily all I had to do was keep them fed and watered all day and watch the road at a few points. They got loads done.
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| A game of spot my brother! |
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| Out on a limb |
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| After the reduction |
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| Some firewood and brash |
They both worked hard all day and the tree looks so much better by the end. I've also ended up with lots of firewood to sort out, a great bonus to this type of work. The tree should also be less likely to drop branches now and hopefully it'll live a lot longer yet!
Who else has been getting work done to trees on their property?
So much better and safer - such talented brothers!
ReplyDeleteIt's much safer for me under the tree and for the tree it's self!
DeleteOld trees with dead wood benefit from a manicure. I hate to see people cutting on younger trees in their prime, though. When they start whacking off large branches, they sign that tree's death warrant.
ReplyDeleteThis one is in it's later years that's for sure! I think they need to be maintained , although if I didn't have my brother to do it I doubt I could afford to.
DeleteWell done in working to keep the tree's alive, I too hate to see a healthy tree cut down. We have a Magnolia in our back garden, which we keep to a smaller size by trimming back each year. We had a tree surgeon the 1st year, I now treat it like a tall shrub and use loppers to keep it in shape.
ReplyDeleteI thin to do something to at east one of them is about all we can manage, but slowly they're looking better each time.
Deletewe had to have to hugely over rown trees cut down, badly damaged in the high winds this year. everyday we are using the log spliter on some rounds. the tree surgeons think we have about 4 years worth of wood once seasoned. they were monsters
ReplyDeleteThat's some amount of wood and money saved in the long run when you're burning it to keep warm - I just hope you've got somewhere to store it so it doesn't rot - that's always my trouble here.
DeleteI have one HUGE Oak that we named 'The Royal Oak' to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. I trim off any dead branches, but otherwise I leave him/her alone. If your brother's ever down this way......
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he wouldn't mind! Make a nice trip but take a while in his Landy!
DeleteWe have a huge oak which is leaning, and which needs sorting out before it topples onto our fence line. It must be very old because at some time in its life it looks like it has been completely lopped across its top, as in pollarding. We have contacted someone and hope that they get back to us soon. I think it is too far for your brother to come and sort it out!
ReplyDeleteThey used to pollard a lot and soemtimes if they needed a gate post and the tree was above them with the right sized branch then they just used that! Saved buying one or moving one!
DeleteWe have several trees on our lot. I think my river birch is dying,we will have to take it down this fall.
ReplyDeleteBirch is much shorter lived but they look so nice blowing in the wind!
DeleteOh my, what a fantastic "haircut" that beautiful (but a bit beat-up) old tree got! To have hired that done would have cost A LOT, at least here in the States.
ReplyDeleteSince we live in a heavily wooded area, we've always got trees (mostly birch and poplar) that need taking down. Hubby and I have done hundreds of them over the years, but it's not a job I feel happy about until they are safely down on the ground. We, too, always use them for firewood if they're not punky.
Believe me this would have cost a lot over here as well! I've got another popular to take down here although it's onthe ground I rent, bbut it's not very safe. There was three of them and two have ended up on my fences so I want to get the third down. Popular Make's alright fire wood if you don;t mind loading the fire a few times in a night.
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