Arborvitae Definition - An obnoxious "tree" that lunatics plant at the corners of their house, thinking they are cute and cuddly, they never trim it, it grows 20 feet high, snow and wind tear them apart. What little wood is there is lousy and burns like kerosene. When the place looks like a horror movie, a knucklehead like me bids the job to remove them to make a few equipment dollars. Took down 45 of these things over 20 feet high, and the attached is the sixth and final load of the darn things. Ever win a job you knew you would hate, then hate yourself the whole time your doing the job for bidding a job you knew you would hate???? Ok, I feel better now, hardwoods this weekend.
I have used the trunks of them for kindling (more or less like cedar), makes for easy fire starting.....but YES THEY ARE A PITA!! There are four 35-40' ones growing along my property line with my neighbor, they are on HER ground, I'm hoping I can talk her into letting me cut them down this fall.....I hate them damm things..... I do tree removal work as well, and I have no plans on charging her a dime....that's how bad I want them gone!
It's a "natural fenceline" type of tree. When folks want privacy from something that will grow over 10' tall they get a bunch of them. But NEVER take care of them.
In my neighborhood the overpopulated deer strip them clean up to the browse line. A 7' one looks pretty hideous with nothing growing at all below the 5' mark.
Ah, but nursery owners LOVE them...................Quick money, easy to sell to unsuspecting happy homeowners.
They make a nice "screen" along a gravel road. Help filter some of the dust. Best to buy them with a single main branch. Most have multiple stems all put together to grow fast initially, looking fuller. First time snow or ice sit on them they spread out, forever looking terrible. If grown from a single stem, they're much more durable.
Feel your pain - sometimes need to use a bunch of crazy wood hoarders as a soundboard to get it out..... I am also a glutten for punishment (as most of us probably are) - usually starts with ya, sure, ill help you put up that fence (fill in your own painfull task).... Painfull when its happening but i find it makes a good story to reflect/brag about on over a few beers. If there were no tough jobs then there wouldnt be any easy ones. Stay strong..
Judging by the trunk pieces in your bed, those were some BIG arbs! They sure do make a mess when ya start taking em out
Yeah, I have been trying to avoid someday buying a good sized chipper, as several arborists I work with have them, and they are really expensive. But would have been nice to feed those things into a 12 inch chipper like my friend has. But even so, would have been darn near the same work as they were literally tied together with old clothes lines, poison ivy vines, etc. Found 14 different objects one would throw for a dog throughout, 20 birds nests. Thankfully no bodies.....
This would do the trick nicely! It surely made quick work of our pines. Took out 20 loads (45' trailer). A couple days and it was done.
