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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

That's one industrious rodent.

[Garret]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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

Fitz

[Boatbum]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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

[John B]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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

[Jim Mahan]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

I'd leave it and move the trailer.
R

[John B]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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.

[sp_clark]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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.

[Henning 4148]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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]

Re: Think I need to deal with this?

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.