Think I need to deal with this?

[Garret]

Nah, it'll be fine...

Amongst the maples lining my upper drive I have an ash or 2 & some basswood. Here's a basswood (roughly 70 ft high) near where I park my big trailer & some other stuff:

Basswood.jpg

As I walked towards it I noticed this pile at the bottom of the tree:

BasswoodChips.jpg

Which led to finding this:

BasswoodHole.jpg

The entire center of the tree is hollowed out. The tree is ~18" diameter here & the hollowed out section is 12-14". Not a whole lot of wood left.

I guess the main question is whether or not I want a new trailer? More seriously - I know basswood is really light, so it probably wouldn't break the trailer - just make a big mess.

Time for some chainsaw work - made more difficult by the tree being in 2 sections separating about 4 ft off the ground, so I have to cut this side about 5 ft off the ground. Adding the "I have no idea what the tree is like below the hollowed out section" issue & it should be fun. I also have to rig a rope to make the tree fall where I need it, not where it wants to go. Some branch trimming of the maple next to it is in order as well.

Then I have to get rid of the wood. I know basswood is sometimes used for model making, but even after removing the bad portions, this tree would make a whole lotta models!

[Keith Wilson]

That's one industrious rodent.

[Garret]

There are a bunch of chipmunks living in the stone wall - so I'm thinking they're the culprits - but really don't know for sure.

[Boatbum]

If I were closer I'd love to get my hands on some of the basswood but I'd have no place to store it while it dries out.

[Fitz]

Looks like the home of a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my experience.

Fitz

[Boatbum]

Looks like the home of a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my experience.

Fitz

Looks like it isn't just model makers that like basswood

[Garret]

I have run chainsaws for over 40 years including just under 2 years full time logging where, in between cutting trees & bucking up firewood, I cut hundreds of widowmakers. My last big tree was a 30" maple that was taller- probably 90 ft. - that I cut about a year ago.

The only concern I have on this is the condition of the tree and preferring to cut when standing on the ground.

Also - I mostly posted this for fun - as having to deal with it is fairly obvious. That's not to say I don't appreciate suggestions!

[sp_clark]

Looks like the home of a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my experience.

S'wat I wuz thinkin too, surprised you dint hear 'em workin on that abode! Dinno rodents'd make sech a big hole 'less they're BIGUNS theyselves!

I'd go with cement m'self if you can see to pack it in high enuf.

[Rich Jones]

Looks like the home of a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my experience.

Fitz

My thoughts also. I've seen them really tear into my dead trees. 18' tall birds, they can really hammer a tree!!

[Garret]

My thoughts also. I've seen them really tear into my dead trees. 18' tall birds, they can really hammer a tree!!

Boy - things really do grow bigger down in the banana belt! 18 foot tall woodpeckers? The ones around here might reach 10 inches.

[John B]

Can you trim the maple from the ground ok? That's the thing, eh, you don't want to climb.

[Jim Mahan]

The tree is still alive, yeah? It will otherwise leaf out in the spring? Wanna foil the rodent and save the tree? You'd have to plumb and probe to know the full extent of the void first. If the rest of the tree is not hollow, whaddabout pouring concrete in it? Concrete hardens and reinforces the living tree so it won't topple, the concrete is sympatico with the living tree, I think, with the wood of the void surface, the tree's cambium layer is intact and it's obviously been getting enough material back forth from root to canopy around the wound. And it would mess with the rodent mind. They might conclude to work and live in another tree away from the trailer guy. Trees grow around and encapsulate all kinds of things, I would expect solid concrete to be at least as benign as some of the other things I've seen swallowed by trees.

[stromborg]

How high is that nest and can you leave it? Around here people have been leaving "stumps" 20+ feet tall to create habitat for creatures who like that sort of thing. Eliminates the most dangerous parts and does some good at the same time.

[Ron Williamson]

I'd leave it and move the trailer.
R

[John B]

Makes me think of our currently identified hazard tree, it's had very low growth on it the 4 years we've been here but now it's clearly dead. It might stand for another 5 or 10 years but will be dramatic when it falls. It's 25 metres or so high and a favorite perch for several species of birds ,about 40 metres off our front porch, it can't hit the house.
It's constant coming and going with heron, tui, wood pigeons, kingfishers, cuckoo,song thrush, even a black shag. The activity is amazing so I'll be unhappy when it's gone.
It's about weighing the balance between how dangerous it becomes and when that is, and when I have to fell it.

[Durnik]

Looks like the home of a pair of pileated woodpeckers in my experience.

Fitz

How high is that nest and can you leave it? Around here people have been leaving "stumps" 20+ feet tall to create habitat for creatures who like that sort of thing. Eliminates the most dangerous parts and does some good at the same time.

I'd leave it and move the trailer.
R

good thoughts here..

eta:

Some one went to a lot of trouble to make a home for the winter
If you take it down now they will probably die.

[Henning 4148]

I think you can not trust that tree anymore in a strong wind. If you can do the woodwork from some distance, that might be good - the hollow section just might collapse when the part you cut off starts to fall. Leaning a ladder against the tree to tie a rope high up - sounds like an interesting idea ...

[Canoeyawl]

Some one went to a lot of trouble to make a home for the winter
If you take it down now they will probably die.

[bluedog225]

I’d leave it. Or tanerite…boom. Strangely safer.

[Torna]

Garret, remind us where you are in the Hills of VT?
I have a woodmizer and am in Thetford. It is put away for the winter, but if a log or two came this way come spring I'd be happy to saw it for you. And NO I do not want the lumber (I overfloweth with lumber), I just like to saw and meet people.

As you surmise, basswood is soft and light - with almost nonexistent annual rings. That uniformity makes it good for carving, models or otherwise.
Once dried, it's also good for painted interior trim.

Oh, and those horizontal rows of small holes in the bark are Yellow Bellied Sapsucker. The wildlife is quite enjoying that tree.

-Leif

[Garret]

Well don't I feel stupid (not a new thing for me). Of course it's woodpeckers.

I don't see signs of a nest inside, but maybe they're wanting to finish the interior before moving in? Living in a house while working on it is so awkward...

A thought: Cut the tree above the cavity? The arrow in the pic below is about 9 ft. or so & I could cut it from the bucket of the tractor (no, I don't like cutting from a ladder). I don't have a good spot for the equipment: ditchwitch, bushhog, and the trailer. Only other place is also in the area where it could fall.

Basswood2.jpg

Thoughts? Will the woodpeckers come back to it after cutting?

[Garret]

Garret, remind us where you are in the Hills of VT?
I have a woodmizer and am in Thetford. It is put away for the winter, but if a log or two came this way come spring I'd be happy to saw it for you. And NO I do not want the lumber (I overfloweth with lumber), I just like to saw and meet people.

As you surmise, basswood is soft and light - with almost nonexistent annual rings. That uniformity makes it good for carving, models or otherwise.
Once dried, it's also good for painted interior trim.

Oh, and those horizontal rows of small holes in the bark are Yellow Bellied Sapsucker. The wildlife is quite enjoying that tree.

-Leif

I'm in Essex - so 1.5 hours. I do hate the idea of its going to waste if people can use it. It's pretty straight.

[Canoez]

In the "yannow" department, it looks like the start of a good basswood log canoe. Just sayin'.

An inspection mirror and a flashlight might tell you a lot about what's going on inside the tree if you've got concerns about critter habitat.

(And yeah, probably ought to deal with that...)

[Paul Pless]

i've climbed a ladder once to cut a tree
and to increase the level of stupid the ladder was in my front end loader
and just to take things up another notch, katherine was driving the tractor!

it's been a long time since i pulled that stunt
i will never do so again

the <snort> was a joke by the way

a good friend of mine was hurt badly and left in the tree after trying to top the tree from a ladder
his sage advice on the subject, "have you ever once seen a pro arborist have a ladder on his truck?"

[John B]

There are flags for me on that one Garret, I probably don't have to say it and of course you're there and can sound it/ inspect it.
Not so sure I'd want to cut that from an elevated position, you tend to lose your escape track that way.

[Garret]

There are flags for me on that one Garret, I probably don't have to say it and of course you're there and can sound it/ inspect it.
Not so sure I'd want to cut that from an elevated position, you tend to lose your escape track that way.

Oh yeah. While I'd thought of using the bucket (or a pallet on the forks), that eliminates the pull vehicle for the guiding rope. I'm now thinking of a section of scaffold - from which I could jump fairly easily. Even if I were to cust as low as possible, because of the joined trunks at the bottom I'd have to have some sort of platform.

Gotta think this one through...

[John B]

Jump you say, this I would see as a course of last resort..( O my knees). The last 7 I felled on my place had one I had to get on the bucket/pallet for , but they're a very stable species, made the back cut to the first 'crack' , got down and then nipped away with the pole saw to get it to go( a leaner in this case)

I tree fish boughs with an old baitcaster and a weight> messenger> rope... works well enough provided there's enough profanity used. Then comes the zen of the accurate cast....

[David W Pratt]

Step One: Move trailer.
Step Two: Hire it done.
Take pictures, since, by following above steps, you will survive the procedure to post them here.

[skuthorp]

Step One: Move trailer.
Step Two: Hire it done.
Take pictures, since, by following above steps, you will survive the procedure to post them here.

Yes. And cut it above the nest hollow if possible. I have experience, and a close shave with a 60ft hollow eucalyptus. Bottom 40ft was hollow. Only an inch or so of live wood round the drum, and when I cut into it as I expected the whole hollow structure of the tree collapsed but I was well out of the way because I knew that would happen. I should have paid for a professional with a tower, such trees are unpredictable

[John B]

I enjoy it, its hard work and has potential risk, but after a while you get to understand what they're going to do and what you have to do to persuade them to do a bit different.
I had lots of great advice and discussions from and with people here when I started felling the pest trees on this place a couple of years ago. Lupo , Jp , Paul , Garret too I think. ( There was a thread)
Passed the 100 big tree threshold a week or so back, big tree meaning anything that'll kill you or permanently alter quality of life if it goes wrong. ( Thats my definition anyway)

[bluedog225]

Wait for the rainy season. Throw a wax fireplace log in there.

[JayInOz]

Most of the strength of the tree is in the stuff that's left. I really really wish we had some bass wood down here. We have absolutely nothing which is easy to carve. Garrett if you were to cut that up into small blocks you could sell it to carvers for good money. I'd buy a bunch myself but freight charges make it too expensive. Check out bass wood for sale on eBay! JayInOz

[Garret]

Most of the strength of the tree is in the stuff that's left. I really really wish we had some bass wood down here. We have absolutely nothing which is easy to carve. Garrett if you were to cut that up into small blocks you could sell it to carvers for good money. I'd buy a bunch myself but freight charges make it too expensive. Check out bass wood for sale on eBay! JayInOz

Wow! I could make more money than selling grilles for Teslas! Now all I need is a company name.

[Canoez]

Wow! I could make more money than selling grilles for Teslas! Now all I need is a company name.

Ok. That had me laughing out loud here.

[JayInOz]

Yeah OK smartarse I just thought it was better idea than dragging it onto a burn pile or letting the bugs turn it into mulch. I'll keep carving bits of ridiculously hard local hardwood and cursing Americans with their fancy basswood and cottonwood bark JayInOz