Dangling Limb - What would you do? Not sure I am putting this in the right forum, please let me know if there is a better forum for this. I've got a Sassafras tree with a long, relatively large limb dangling from the top about 20-25 feet long. It is attached by two stands of wood, one strand is pretty thick and one strand is much smaller. The main trunk of the Sassafras is a V shape. The other V is in good shape but the one with the dangling limb is not in good shape. It is starting to crack at the top of the V. (see pictures) I've tried tying a rope to the limb and twisting it in all directions. Both strands have stayed attached. If I try cut down the damaged V of the main trunk, I'm afraid the dangling limb will create chaos as it falls. Also, most of my stacks are under this tree. So I figure I'll be restacking firewood for quite awhile if I ever get this limb and tree down. If I can get this limb off, then I could cut down the Sassafras trunk on the bad V side. I'm looking for thoughts and/or ideas on how to get this limb off the main trunk. Thanks, CW
IMHO, that whole tree needs to go. Take it down the safest you can. No point to leave a damaged tree there. Dangerous even to be under it. Your stacks are better off out in the open. Just add to the wood pile.
Have you tried taking the rope back towards the good trunk. The way it's being pulled currently won't let the fibers tear from the limb instead of the trunk
Didn't spend much of any time in the St. James area where you're from, but growing up further east in Suffolk co. there were plenty o' sassafras. Pesky almost.... Whatever you do be safe cordwrangler
Really depends what you got access to. Saw gun idea that's a but other ideas.. I would get in bucket of Kubota and use pole saw! my dad who worked for power company would put on his climbers go above it and cut down. A length of chain to a pickup ... OK I'm a redneck!
@ PapaDave, That is what I said to my wife. If we weren't on Long Island, my 12 gauge would take out that the limb straps. basod, I'm going to try that tomorrow. @ cnice_37 It is about 30 feet to the top. @ savemoney I know the whole tree needs to go, but until I get this limb off it is going to be very risky to cut it down with that limb dangling as it comes down. Appreciate all the comments. I've tried a come along but it did not work. Not enough pull, the main trunk just leans with it as well as the limb.
1. Tie rope to branch. Use a slip knot. 2. Wrap rope around branch 5 times. This may require tying some weight to throw it up there. 3. Tie other end of rope to truck 4. Start truck 5. Pull branch out of tree with truck. The wraps will make the branch twist right out of that mess. 6. If that doesn't work, repeat but wrap the rope the other way around the branch making it twist the opposite direction. Fwiw, I'd drop the whole thing once that branch is gone. That open cavity in the split trunk is asking for trouble down the road.
With something like that I would call a tree service and let them deal with it. One of the guys that brings me wood. I don't mind giving them business. It isn't worth the risk IMHO.
That can be a tricky situation, but somehow securing a rope to it and using a vehicle to pull it down may be your best option. At any rate, I'd keep yourself and everyone else clear from under that tree until you remove that limb.
X2. Not safe there at all. Better to risk it knocking down your stacks while pulling it down, then risk it falling who knows when. I've seen limbs fall from tress even on still air days.
If all else fails, looking at the bottom, you may be able to pull that whole one side down rather than just pulling on the limb. Also, realize that we're not there but if appears that if you stand on the back side of the tree (I'm looking at pictures 3 and 4) you may be able to get it down even before pulling on the limb but I'd still try to get that limb off first if at all possible. It would be touchy but if that limb is held on that tight I think it could be done with no damage. But as stated, we aren't there so can't see the whole picture so keep that in mind.
Well, that was interesting. The limb is down and the main trunk is sort of down. I got the limb down but the trunk of the V that the limb was attached to, came with it. Rather than the straps of wood giving way, the trunk of the sassafras gave way. It was pretty rotten down at the bottom. I used 3 15 foot long, 6500 lb tow straps from HF with a 4000 lb comealong and pulled them both down. I only had about 3-4 feet of cable on the comealong, so I used the comealong as far as I could, then tied it off, unroll the comealong cable and repeat. It took four times but the limb is down and the trunk is sort of down. It is resting on a wood stack for 2017. A lot of clean up to do now. I have mostly oak and hickory for the next 3 years and sassafras will mix in well with it. Plus sassafras is great for smoking chicken and pork. Thanks to everybody for their thoughts and ideas. CW
Yep, that was rotten. Glad you got it down w/o getting hurt, but I was really rootin' for the shotgun.
I've been cutting down trees for 20 years with a chainsaw but this is the first one I pulled down. CW
CW, I'm really happy you got it down that way. I hate cutting rotten trees as they can sometimes do some unpredictable things. This one maybe not because of the lean but the good thing is that it is down. Will you be taking the other one down too?
I'm not sure if I'm going to take it down. Once I get the debris cleared, I'm going to take hard look at it. Here is a pic of it. For some reason, it looks in a lot better shape than the one that came down. CW
Good job. As for the other one, you most likely have some time. Poke around to see if any rot is in the base. That should help you making a plan.
