Huge apple tree with huge hollow - what to do?

[Alisande]

This russet apple tree is probably close to the same age as my house: about 160 years. It grows straight for five feet or so, and then leans toward the house and the stone ice house. It is taller than my two-story (plus attic) farmhouse, and carries a great deal of weight at the top, which consists of a tangle of massive limbs.

I discovered yesterday that the tree trunk appears to be solid for the first three feet or so, and then it is hollowed out. I don't know how far up the hollow goes; I shined a flashlight in there, and it was hollow as far as I could see, which wasn't very far as the truck veered off at an angle and twisted a bit.

I was alarmed to see all that weight being carried by what is basically a shell. Am I correct in assuming that the tree is in danger of coming down (on my house, my ice house, and whomever happens to be walking past on the way to the garage)?

My kids had a swing in this tree when they were little, and I love the look of it. I would be so sorry to see it go, but I would be sorrier to have part of my house caved in. My finances are limited, and I suspect that may impact any decision that has to be made.

Here's a picture of most of the tree (along with my cool car), shot from the side opposite the hollow opening.

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Alisande/Nature/?action=view&current=HollowTree.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Alisande/Nature/HollowTree.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here's the opening. The tree is hollow for a couple of feet below the opening, and well above it.

<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Alisande/Nature/?action=view&current=Hollow.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/Alisande/Nature/Hollow.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I appreciate your advice!

Alisande

 

[tomtrees58]

that's past its prime remove it tom trees

 

[treeseer]

no cracks visible . past its prime is not a death sentence is it? :censored:

hey tom you're past your prime; hang it up bud you're done.

have the top pruned lightly in August.

Hollow trees can stand a long time; attached is a tale about one that was 90% hollow and stood 13 years (and would have stood much longer)

 

[Nailsbeats]

Top it above the lowest healthy leader and let is surprise you. It may hold on for a very long time. Otherwise listen to Tom.

 

[Ax-man]

Apples are extremely tough trees . Don't cut it down. Have a good arborist do some light reduction on the crown.

I have seen many an apple with the same problems like you have and are still standing.

 

[indiansprings]

I'm with Tom, your only delaying what will eventually occur. Why spend several hundred bucks on trimming when a high wind could cause trunk failure and cost you thousands in clean up and repair of your ice house or worse yet your residence. I had a nice little orchard on the place when I bought it, but it hadn't been maintained in thirty years. Apple and Pear trees out of control, one pear tree must have been 26", ancient, it took about three hours to push all of them out with a 125hp 4wd tractor and loader and pile them up for burning. Now they are gone and a new orchard has been planted.
Sure you hate to kill an old tree, but it'll cost you money in the long run if it's endangering your buildings.

 

[Mike Cantolina]

Where in PA?

 

[Alisande]

Thank you.

Thanks for all the input. Money is definitely a factor, and while I do care about the tree, I think it would make sense to take care of this problem in one step.

I spoke to a tree grafter who will create a new King apple tree for me to replace this tree (a Russet). The Kings are wonderful apples. We have an old King tree in the front yard as well. Part of it came down last year, so it will be nice to carry on the line.

We're in northeast PA, by the way.

Thanks again,

Alisande

 

[tomtrees58]

no cracks visible . past its prime is not a death sentence is it? :censored:

hey tom you're past your prime; hang it up bud you're done.

any time you want to try to climb with me let me no you will lose hands down:jawdrop: tom trees

 

[treeseer]

I think it would make sense to take care of this problem in one step.

If you see this tree as a "problem", and are unwilling to invest anything at all in ongoing care, then yes please do cut it down right away. While you're at it, all your other trees have problems, so let's get rid of those too.

Your cars need maintenance, so maybe those problems should be taken care of in one step.

This is a common sales pitch by tree cutters--Defect => Hazard => Removal. Let's do a cost-benefit analysis on tree care before calling for tree removal. Attached.

 

[Alisande]

Was that meant to be insulting, Treeseer? Because it sounds that way.

I'm a widow, past retirement age, and living alone on the old farm where my husband and I raised our children. Learning how to do everything on my own (or trying to) certainly has its empowering moments, but that doesn't alter the fact that, like many widows, I still feel the weight of responsibility much of the time.

Although I tend to anthromorphize plants and trees and regard them, like many other things, with a great deal of sentiment, I have had to learn to temper this with more practicality than I'm often comfortable with.

Life changes. Fifteen years ago we would have made every effort to save the tree, and not given much thought to the cost. I'm not in that position anymore. A couple of years ago one-third of my King apple tree came down and missed the porch by a couple of feet. If there's a chance the Russet will fall and damage the house and ice house, I don't want to take that chance.

Your comment, ". . . .all your other trees have problems, so let's get rid of those too," was just plain rude. I am surrounded by fruit trees my husband planted--apple, pear, plum, peach, cherry--plus woods full of hemlocks, ash, hickory, and more. Each year more than 150 of our old maples are tapped for syrup.

I will continue to do my best to take care of them all. Perhaps my best doesn't measure up to your convictions, but I can live with that.

Alisande

 

[S Mc]

Alisande, this is a decision fraught with the desire to respond emotionally versus the necessity to act practically.

Your apple tree is magnificent and awe inspiring in its age and tenacity. We do indeed see many apple trees that defy time and gravity.

This tree may be able to be saved by a drastic reduction, as mentioned by one poster, but it will be a mere shadow of its former self and may, or may not, survive. To do a light reduction would probably require extra equipment as you have mentioned the large cavity potentially compromising climber safety in reaching the tips. It is difficult to see whether a tall ladder and pole saw would be enough to reach the necessary cuts or if a bucket truck would be required. If so, that indeed could add considerably to the expense.

The easy answer is to remove the tree. But we so often hear this from people that it can trigger emotional responses in us as we try to be tree advocates. Any tree close to a structure can be defined as a hazard tree in one way or another as there are no trees without defects. So for some of us this view point dooms a great many trees that may be shouldn't have been. And a great many of us see trees coming last in people's landscapes. It can be heartbreaking and frustrating.

But you sound as if you truly care and I appreciate your dilemna. Have a qualified arborist in your area come to your site and give you a detailed estimate on your reasonable options. Estimates are generally free, but be sure to confirm that.

Sylvia

 

[Alisande]

Thank you, Sylvia; I will do just that. I appreciate your understanding.

Alisande

 

[Ed Roland]

well said Sylvia.

Alisande, Defect + Target = Hazard is the actual equation butchered by Treeseer.

This apple seems to present very low risk and i would hang on to the ole girl by hiring a professional to lightly prune and recommend optimum cultural conditions.