To: Homestead List <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [Homestead] Odd tree problem
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:40:22 -0400
We have a 100 ft+ sweetgum tree standing in between the barn and the
workshop. This tree is stout-it survived a direct hit from a tornado in
2002 and lost a few foot in diameter limbs. It hasn't lost any limbs
since.
Yesterday, we came home from work and found a huge 8" diameter limb on
the fence/ground. It came very close to hitting our dog. It appeared
to have split off..no disease that I could see..no lightning scar, etc.
I have no idea of why it fell.
Today, we come home from work and another, even larger limb has downed
the power lines to the barn. It too, was split, and it split suddenly.
It took out another branch the size of my leg on the way down.
These limbs were near the top of the tree. They were not diseased or
rotten-in fact they were loaded with sweetgum balls. If branch #1 was
at the 12 o'clock position, branch #2 was at 4-5 o'clock.
Is it possible that increased sap from good rainfall created extra
weight (along with all those balls)in the branch and caused it to split
off? We haven't had any lightning strikes nearby.
Any ideas on the freak limb fall?
I'd love to take this tree down as it will KO my garden or the
workshop/greenhouse, but sweetgum is sucky firewood and it is the main
tree in that area. In my experience, once you take out a tree, you
create a domino effect of treefall from the loss of the first windbreak
tree. Any ideas on the use of the wood? The tree is about 3 feet in
diameter.
Bev
--
BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
34.498N 85.076W Bev is Earth, Ron is Sky
[Homestead] Odd tree problem,
EarthNSky, 06/09/2008