In a nutshell... I have set of beech trees that have grown together and present a challenge to drop without taking out the propane tank. The first photo is of the tank and the beech at right. If you enlarge the photo, you can see some green marker paint. One branch has a single dot (high and low) and the other has a double dot (high and at the base of the tree)
They merge (have grown together/fused) about 8 feet off the ground...
Both diverge on the other side of the merger...
the larger branch is rotted at the base
and lives above the propane tank
again.
I'm concerned because I have NO idea from looking at this about what forces are in the branches. My first thought was to cut the branches beyond the union, but the union is 8' in the air, putting me overhead, on the branch, or on a ladder (and the Darwin Award list). I could cut near the union, but still from a ladder (again, not an idea I'm willing to try). Even if that worked, I don't know what would happen to the uncut branch if I took part of it out. The easiest cut would be to cut above the rotten portion, but with the double-dot branch connecting it to the tree, it is likely to jump in the air (possibly sideways) than do anything I'd guess accurately.
Cutting the larger tree came to mind for a second, hoping that it would pull the smaller rotten trunk down, but if there is enough meat there, the rotten branch seems like it could pull the tree in a direction other than the direction usually forced by the hinge.
At the end of the day, this tree is rotting, is showing signs of dying soon, and will come down randomly on its own if I don't do something to it.
Ideas?
They merge (have grown together/fused) about 8 feet off the ground...
Both diverge on the other side of the merger...
the larger branch is rotted at the base
and lives above the propane tank
again.
I'm concerned because I have NO idea from looking at this about what forces are in the branches. My first thought was to cut the branches beyond the union, but the union is 8' in the air, putting me overhead, on the branch, or on a ladder (and the Darwin Award list). I could cut near the union, but still from a ladder (again, not an idea I'm willing to try). Even if that worked, I don't know what would happen to the uncut branch if I took part of it out. The easiest cut would be to cut above the rotten portion, but with the double-dot branch connecting it to the tree, it is likely to jump in the air (possibly sideways) than do anything I'd guess accurately.
Cutting the larger tree came to mind for a second, hoping that it would pull the smaller rotten trunk down, but if there is enough meat there, the rotten branch seems like it could pull the tree in a direction other than the direction usually forced by the hinge.
At the end of the day, this tree is rotting, is showing signs of dying soon, and will come down randomly on its own if I don't do something to it.
Ideas?
