We had some wind today, and this large piece of a silver maple(30" Diameter) just barely missed my garage. Minor damage to the roof. It actually fell right on top of 3 cords of oak that I just stacked the day before! Figures!
Oh man. This makes me nervous as I have a biggin in my backyard that could hit my house if it fell right.
Just went by a house yesterday that had a large Silver Maple with plenty of trunk rot going on...large limb hanging over the house...the people were actually sitting on the front porch right under it!
Yes, I'll be cutting it up. Might as well! My MS261 will be getting a workout. I normally don't get something that big, but when it's dropped into my lap, how can I not take it? A tree service will take the 6" limb off the roof(insurance and a 6/12 pitch) next week. At that time, I'm going to have them take care of the brush(my cost), as I have no way to take care of it on my city lot. I'll also talk to them about slicing up that big piece as they will probably have a saw bigger than mine. If it's too expensive, I'll do it. I can roll my splitter out of the garage right to it. I did a lot of ash that size when the EAB was in this area, but I prefer smaller stuff. It WAS a close call, as I had two vehicles in the garage, as well as all of my other "stuff". The other half of that tree is leaning the other direction. I'm not sure what my neighbor is going to do yet, and I don't think he knows either. What's left is leaning toward two other neighbors properties, with a privacy fence on the property line. We have been good neighbors for 35 years, and he took out another silver maple in his front yard as soon as I pointed out to him that a crotch was opening and closing as the wind blew. This one was one of the healthiest looking maples in the area that always budded out healthy and looked good. Of course, it was a weak crotch, but it had been that way for a lot of years. His parents planted that tree 70 years ago, and that's about how long silver maples live, so it's time. He's the second generation on that property, so it will be tough for him. Anyway, after getting things set with my insurance company and a contractor to fix the soffit and roof damage next week, I had more than a few barley pops. I might play the lottery tomorrow too!
Well I guess you could say it just wanted to join in with it's buddys. That was a big piece of wood that broke off.
That should be easy to cut that limb with your 261. Why pay someone when you have some good tools to use?
Wait. That’s a 30” branch? What is that Texas? Never done it but I would think insurance would pay for cleanup too, maybe, maybe not.
What you are not seeing is that that limb is extending completely across the garage and part of it is laying against a chimney. That, and I don't do well on 6/12 pitch roofs any more. In my younger days, I would take care of it, but a bad knee and 67 years says no. That tree split into two large pieces right where the break happened. Actual DBH is probably in the 4-5' range. Measured from the break, that tree stretched out 130'. Largest silver maple in the neighborhood. Not sure yet about the insurance. I have been told that they would pay for removal of the limb off the garage, but not the yard cleanup. I'll take anything down to about 3", but there is a huge amount of brush to deal with, so I'd rather have someone in to chip it. There's damage across the bottom of the roofline too that you can't see, as well as shingle damage, so it's time to get insurance involved. I like that thinking!
No. I'm in the middle of the city... Lot is not big enough and it's not allowed inside the city. And the dump is at least 10 miles away. I figure about 10 pickup loads. Easier to have a company come in and brush it out and chip it. I'll get the stuff 3" and larger. I like the Brittany in your avitar! Grew up with them.
Well, the insurance did pay for the entire tree cleanup off the garage and the cleanup on the ground. I had them take all the brush and they left the wood for me nicely cut into 18" lengths! By me taking the bigger pieces, they did not have to bring in a crane. The two guys on the saws really did know what 18" was, and most of the pieces were within an inch of that measurement. I'm still processing the wood, but it looks like I will get about 3 cords. I vertically quartered the trunk pieces(30-36") and then split the rest horizontally. They brought out their old O88 two man saw for the trunk. I think they had fun using it too! Going to be a bit for the garage repair because of a shortage of shingles. But it is nicely tarped, so I should be ok... And now, the neighbor wants to have the rest of the tree taken down, and yesterday asked if I want the wood. I told him I would take 18" diameter and smaller. I'm done with the big rounds right now! And then the neighbor across the street said he is going to have a large, dead silver maple taken down in a few months, and I was welcome to that wood too. When it rains, it pours! (But I'm not really complaining!)
Probably go straight from stump to stove. At least the limb wood. I know all about when it rains it pours.
I agree that it should be nice and dry. There is one small limb that is still hanging on for life, but the rest of the tree is dead and starting to drop smaller branches. It's between and in a bunch of wires, including under a 2400v primary trio, so it's going to be a tough one to take down. The power company will only trim it off the primaries, not take it all the way down, and it is fully on the neighbors property. I should have room in my stacks for it by that time!
It’s just a matter of time for the spot where that large limb broke off for the decay to start going down toward ground level. I’d be on board with removal of what’s left.
I agree with that too. It's already hollow going down from the break. The neighbor is good about taking care of things like this, and he's been getting estimates. I'll guess he'll get someone under contract within a few weeks, since he has now decided to do it. Unfortunately, even though it almost fell on my garage, I'll miss the tree because it gave me nice morning shade on my yard. I'll think of it when I'm warming my house too!
