You guys have got me addicted to scrounging for wood... We had bad storms last week and I went to the other side of my property to see what if anything fell.. there's too much to post but here's the highlights... A huge ash broke off it's Siamese twin and with it broke in half a huge black locust. I'm going to cut down the rest of the locust...it's big For reference, here's my 4 speed power shifting hand...I'm not a little guy either.. To keep it somewhat short here's some other black locust that blew over. Regarding the ash tree, I'd like to keep what's still standing there. Do you guys think it will heal and survive? I'm out of room as it is and would like to save it for years to come.
heal-unlikely survive-probably, maybe even for quite some time. what are the little trees next to it ? something worth giving a shot at the space in the canopy ?
There ain't an ash tree east of the the Big Muddy going to survive because of the EAB. You may as well cut it down with that much damage it will never be healthy. You have a great bunch of wood to process there! Just be careful of cutting blow down trees with a big root ball. Those thing can stand right bak up on you. Nuff said, get to and that !
Be very careful releasing the stored energy in that bent over ash. It can definitely come back to bite you and throw the saw into your face.
Leave it till you need it. Vertical wood storage. Dont see ash dying in north Alabama. EAB going to hit down south?
Nice score, Moparguy! The ash trees are done for sure, but it won't hurt them to stand for a while till you get to them.
As far as the Ash tree goes, it will probably continue to live. After seeing the damage done to it, I would take it down and let some other smaller trees have a chance to grow big. The good thing is it's not going anywhere, knock it down whenever you the time. Great score on all the other down stuff!!
Cut it up if you have time, if not, it will be there when you do have time. Like Oldman said, respect the stored energy. A few years back a small 5" Oak bent over and down in the yard from the wind. In a hurry I grabbed the saw to just whack it down, That tree shot up like lightning when I cut it and hit me square in the forehead and sent the saw flying opening a cut and raising a huge egg on head. It damm near knocked me out and my kids forced me to go the ER to get checked for a concussion. I could have bought a cord of wood with what it cost me out of pocket. The worst part is, I knew better. But I was in a hurry......
I agree with Oldman47 be extremely careful of stored energy. NH mountain man you are sir are a lucky man to be able to tell about your incident.
Hey now, just a minute there Moparguy ! Don't try blaming FHC for being a hoarder....it was in you all the while; we just brought it out of ya being the enablers that we are!!!
Thanks for all the replies. I was thinking of starting on the far end and working my way to the trunk and maybe by then it won't be as spring loaded. When I first saw it I didn't even know it was twisted until I walked down the tree to take the far picture of it. I didn't even notice what the smaller trees growing around it were. I can't tell what saplings are very well, but the smaller trees I have noticed have been mostly hackberry, sugar maple, red maple, beech, and further down hill a ton of black locust. I also see a lot of 1-2" dia blue beech everywhere but haven't spotted the larger parent tree. I may cut that ash down in the fall and enjoy the colors while I'm up there. It will give me an excuse to look some more.
