Leaning Tree Opinions| retain or remove?

Eric Frei

Here's the facts.

0.53m DBH and 16m tall (good taper ratio at 30:1) Eucalyptus propinqua (grey gum)

We have 3 reasonable buttress/roots opposite the lean and coincidentally windward side.

Soil is sand, we are part of the coastal waterway system at Tweed Heads but a dry block.

Tree has minor wounds from storms and could be pruned easily. Branch unions and forks are excellent especially for this species.

Tenant who has lived there 11 years said the reason why the tree is leaning is because when it was small some fool drove into it pushing on a lean and it stayed that way since.

There is an element of photo-tropism at play, large fig tree on a neighbouring property is stealing all the sunlight however the top 3m of this tree has now grown above the fig and is slightly correcting.

The lean of the tree is to the west, canopy weighting and bias heavily to the west with 6.7m of canopy spread whilst east has only 1.5m.

VTA signifies a semi mature very healthy tree. The site will be developed and this is the only tree that's on site pending a recommendation.

My question to you is, would you keep it or remove it and why?



Upper canopy, superb!

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Garry Brockley

If this tree is to be left standing on it's own then it wont have built up sufficient latteral strength to withstand the coastal winds alone as it has always been protected by the fig, therefore if this is the case the tree will most likely fail if left alone.
If the tree will still have the protection from the surrounding trees then leave it, however if the new building is to be built in the path of the tree then it may as well be taken out as the new owners will have it removed once they move in.
Just my opinion

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TrevMcRev

One of the key things is can a suitable sized root zone be protected and the development still take place?

I dont have a big issue with the lean, if indeed it is a natural lean.

But if we go messing with the root/soil system, that's another story.

treekiwi

I agree,
The lean only becomes a concern if excavation near the root plate is undertaken or any changes in wind loading occurs as outlined in 'Axiom of uniform stress' by Mr Matteck. This brings in a new set of problems and questions. my 2 cents...

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stirmantrees

I suggest leaving it so they can build a two story house with tile roof, pool, gazebo, complete landscaping, walkway, fence, cut the roots with irrigation installation, make a gate that you couldn't possibly fit a wheelbarrow through let alone a lift, pour a thin concrete driveway that no one can drive a crane on, finish up with some real pretty flowers and roses right under the tree, wait for it to die ......a year later call you and say why didn't they remove this tree when there was nothing under it? and then you can charge them for the technical removal.
I guess I should have asked if they were building a house nearby.
Does this mean i have some repressed anger?
I feel better though.

Bob Tooley

As long as you cover up all the damages you have done underground and make everything look pretty, and as if it has been there for hundreds of years, you can forget all about it.......reprint from... "Landscape 101"

Eric Frei

The tree and development etc is in fine hands .... all is taken into consideration when I'm on the job. Allowances for canopy, lean, scaffolding, types of fences etc etc

Pioneer of the Pre, During and Post Construction tree reports nothing is left to chance.

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newguy18

That shit is quite common all through Florida,now isn't it?

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old schooler

stirmantrees

just looked at a laurel oak in winterpark that had buttress roots cut about 2 feet away from the trunk for a drain for a sink in the back yard. the tree is about 30" caliper with codominate stems over two houses. The contractor said it has a tap root. the trench runs from the back yard all the way to the front. right next to the tree. what to do, what to do?

Eric Frei

Pictures, sometimes I take them and then years later you have evidence when things start to go wrong, or use the pics as ammo to complain or get a job fixing the problem.

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