Kottonwood
ArboristSite Operative
Ok, I got a phone call from a guy who says he has a 60 ft tall honey locust he wants "chopped down" to 25 ft because he is installing solar panels.
I basically explained to him that I don't top trees and why topping is bad. I said I would come over and check it out and see but that I would probably tell him that we would have to cut it down and plant something else.
I went and checked it out tonight and I tried to tell him that we should just cut it down, it would make some nice lumber and I could plant him an ornamental pear or crabapple. He was very insistent on keeping it because he had actually planted it when he was a kid. He had apparently lived in the same house since he was ten.
I think I can take it down to 35 ft by pushing the limits of a crown reduction. I could take it back pretty far leaving laterals just large enough to assume apical dominance. The wounds I would be creating would be approximately 2-5 inches in diameter.
I am going to meet there next week with the solar guys. I am bringing my laser pointer and I am going to explain exactly how far I would cut it back and they'll let me know if it'll work or not.
Wondering what anyone else would do if they were in this boat?
I basically explained to him that I don't top trees and why topping is bad. I said I would come over and check it out and see but that I would probably tell him that we would have to cut it down and plant something else.
I went and checked it out tonight and I tried to tell him that we should just cut it down, it would make some nice lumber and I could plant him an ornamental pear or crabapple. He was very insistent on keeping it because he had actually planted it when he was a kid. He had apparently lived in the same house since he was ten.
I think I can take it down to 35 ft by pushing the limits of a crown reduction. I could take it back pretty far leaving laterals just large enough to assume apical dominance. The wounds I would be creating would be approximately 2-5 inches in diameter.
I am going to meet there next week with the solar guys. I am bringing my laser pointer and I am going to explain exactly how far I would cut it back and they'll let me know if it'll work or not.
Wondering what anyone else would do if they were in this boat?