TREES-How can you tell when a huge mature tree is dying? HELP!

[cheerbop]

We have many trees on our lot and are getting lots of pressure from our neighbors to take a couple of them down. They are afraid they will hit their houses.
We do not want to remove such a large tree if it is healthy (esp inside the trunk).
Anyone know anything?

Thanks!

 

[Cindyluwho]

Your nearest University or your city may have an arborist who will take a look for free. Don't trust the neighbors to hire a "tree expert". Find an arborist yourself for an honest answer. Good Luck!!

 

[Chicago526]

We got a free "check-up" from a tree doctor (you can find them in the phone book). They come out and look at the tree(s) and tell you what, if anything, is wrong with it/them. If something is wrong, they'll tell you what it is and what they'll charge to treat it (if it can be treated).

In our case, our tree has a fungle infection and it will be about $500 to treat. They also recomended we prune it and mulch it, and gave us estimates for that.

 

[grimley1968]

A lot of things about the appearance of the trees can tell you things.

- How do the leaves look? Are they nice and green, or dull and brownish? Do they perk up after a good rainfall? If they don't, that can indicate to you that the vascular system isn't working well.

- Are the branches hanging down more than they used to? I realize branches will always tend to point downward as they grow, but you can tell if it's more than in the past.

- Do the trees get their leaves later in the spring than in the past? Do they lose their leaves earlier in the fall?

- I've heard you can tell by looking at the bark how healthy a tree is, but I don't know how this is done.

- Do you see lots of holes in the bark that might indicate infestation of some sort?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess the first thing you notice in Spring, when the tree blossoms or the leaves come out. Some of the BIG branches will not leaf out or blossom along with the other trees of the same type. It will appear spotty.
For example, Bradford Pears are notorious for this. This is a sign they are about to split in half. It is really obvious. One side with flower earlier/turn color in fall than the other.

Now your comment about the trunk of the tree is . What do you mean by that?

 

[grlpwrd]

I would hire a professional.

Please keep in mind, too, that a perfectly healthy tree can also be destructive due to a natural event like a hurricane or tornado. A healthy tree in our front yard split during Hurricane Isabel and totalled my Ford Expedition. Many, many people in our development alone had healthy trees crash in their roofs causing extensive damage.

GL!

 

[cheerbop]

I guess the first thing you notice in Spring, when the tree blossoms or the leaves come out. Some of the BIG branches will not leaf out or blossom along with the other trees of the same type. It will appear spotty.
For example, Bradford Pears are notorious for this. This is a sign they are about to split in half. It is really obvious. One side with flower earlier/turn color in fall than the other.

Now your comment about the trunk of the tree is . What do you mean by that?

OK

A neighbor had 3 very large mature trees taken down last weekend. They were pressured by the same neighbors of which I spoke earlier.
2 of the trees ended up being VERY healthy and taken down unnecessarily. One of the trees, however, was becoming very hollow on the inside of the trunk most of the way down. We were told this is how trees die. (?)
So now, we are the ones that are being told by these neighbors to take down our large trees because they THINK ours is hollowing also.

 

[Chicago526]

OK

A neighbor had 3 very large mature trees taken down last weekend. They were pressured by the same neighbors of which I spoke earlier.
2 of the trees ended up being VERY healthy and taken down unnecessarily. One of the trees, however, was becoming very hollow on the inside of the trunk most of the way down. We were told this is how trees die. (?)
So now, we are the ones that are being told by these neighbors to take down our large trees because they THINK ours is hollowing also.

Just remember, your neighbors can "presure" you all they want, but you don't have to take any of your trees down if you don't want to. If they fall (and they may not, even if they are sick) and if they cause damage to your neighbors property, then you'll just have to pay them damages (or your homeowners insurance can, if the claim is big enough).

Your neighbors cannot make you do anything you don't want to. Have the trees checked out if you want, if they are sick it may be worth it to have them removed before they do fall and cause damage. But if you find they are healthy, if it were me, I'd tell my neighbors to go fly a kite!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hollowing of the trunk is normal in an very old tree.

The thing that is the "life" of the tree is the cambium which is the "green part" right under the bark.
If for example, around the trunk of your tree there is no bark left, I would consider that a "dead tree".

 

[Disney Doll]

OK

A neighbor had 3 very large mature trees taken down last weekend. They were pressured by the same neighbors of which I spoke earlier.
2 of the trees ended up being VERY healthy and taken down unnecessarily. One of the trees, however, was becoming very hollow on the inside of the trunk most of the way down. We were told this is how trees die. (?)
So now, we are the ones that are being told by these neighbors to take down our large trees because they THINK ours is hollowing also.

I would thank my neighbors for their input and tell them that I would be hiring an arborist to come out and take a look at the tress on my property and that I would act on his advice if any of the trees needed to be taken down. Then I would do this.

Then I would not discuss the subject with my neighbors again. It is none of their business what you do on your property and they certainly have no right to tell you to cut down trees. And I think they have a heck of a lot of nerve "pressuring" you to do anything on your property. I agree with you that I would never cut down a perfectly healthy tree.

I hate neighbors like this. We have neighbors that moved on to the street about 5-6 years ago, and right away, they started this crap about "suggesting" to others what to do in their yards & with their houses, because they had been the Presidents of their condo association before moving ot our neighborhood so they "knew". I told them that when they started paying my mortgage for me, then they could do whatever they wanted with my property but until then they could mind their own business.

Needless to say, we don't speak much, which is fine by me. I have never been of the opinion that my neighbors needed to be my best friends. It's nice if you can get along, but if you can't, then just don't bother me.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Why do your neighbors want you to remove any of your trees?

Penny

 

[cheerbop]

Why do your neighbors want you to remove any of your trees?

Penny

They are afraid that the trees are going to fall on their houses. Which, is possible if they did fall because they are quite tall/large. We have alot more trees than those around us because we did not cut all or most of them down when we built our house. The major selling point of this small development was that there were/are mature trees on all of the lots.
So what do most people do when they move here? CUT all the trees down. It really ticks us off but what are we to do? It is their lot...

Oh well...
we just wanted some advice on the issue and also wondered if anyone on here has experience with trees.

Thanks for all the input

 

[phillybeth]

They are afraid that the trees are going to fall on their houses.

That's why you, and they, have homeowners. I'd tell them to go pound sand.

 

[my3kids]

Lots of things COULD happen. If they are that paranoid tell them the trees are a good buffer for random wind currents that might pull their roof off.