 Tree-to-Ground Guying
Colleagues,
The old oak in the pictures has a wound ~50% of the circumference and ~6' high halfway up the trunk, on the side opposite the house. I can shove my entire handsaw in the gap between the woundwood and the xylem in several places along the edges of this wound. I can also shove it straight into some of the cracks, to a depth half the length of the blade.
Crown reduction is not a reasonable option given the age of the tree and the severity of the defect. The best management option seems to be a guy cable installed from a point above the defect and anchored into the ground. I reviewed the ANSI standards and the BMP's with the client, and our course seems clear. I have specified ground anchors only twice in the past, and cannot confirm whether these were installed, or recall seeing others.
Can you please refer me to successful cases of tree-to-ground guying? The client would like to know of some before going ahead. Sorry for the crappy pic of the wound; light was bad and i forgot to adjust the camera. 6 dead limbs around this wound and i have no clue what caused it. Theories? |