Can/should this oak be saved?

[Fisherman]

Came down during storm Doris. The crack goes right down into the trunk. Had thought about pollarding it but feel the damage and age of the tree might be against it.

[Duncansimpson]

Yes definitely a pollard. Cut it off about 3 ft above where it came off and good for another 200 years. Think of the wildlife.

[Fisherman]

I do want to save it if I can. Had a tree surgeon out today and he felt it should all come down.

[Andymacp]

Will they let you fence it off ?

[drinksloe]

U could try to pollard it but i doubt it would survive, be too harsh and taking to much off in 1 go.

A local estate has tried to pollard some big oaks (althou not quite as big as that 1) in a SSSI and a high % die, just too much stress.

A lot of the ancient oaks badly need re-pollarding but probably been far tong since they were done and wouldn't survive it, probably a few hundred years since last pollarded

Possibly if its in decent health apart from crack in good soi and has a wet summer it might live.

 

If u try and fail u can still fell it anyway, if u fell it it doesn't have a chance

 

Possibly u could limb the leaning limbs off it leaving the straight up leg, so taking the side pressure off but leaving middle 1. If the side legs start to grow at the pollard u could mibee take the middle 1 out a few years down the line if needed

Edited February 27, 2017 by drinksloe

[Fisherman]

Thanks for the replies. Can't really fence it off and it hangs over our driveway.

Edited February 27, 2017 by Fisherman
Hadn't finished

[sloth]

Hard to say for sure without seeing the tree in person. However, if the tree owner wishes to retain it, I reckon it should be possible. Some good advice from drinksloe above. Can the track below it be diverted a little, what is there it could hit if it fell? A few neters reduction of height and width can reduce stresses low down by a surprisingly significant amount, so all hope is far from gone!

[Paul Melarange]

It's impossible to say without actually looking at it. However, it might be possible to regain a reasonable level of stability by crown reduction.

 

Pollarding it is likely to result in so much dysfunction that it will die within a few years.

 

Assessing the risk it poses (i.e by considering the target/s, size of the part and the likelihood of it failing) should form the basis of your management decision in this case.

[Skysmoke]

Perhaps pollard it high to include some existing green foliage. Will reduce the shock ie keep the sap flowing. Will look better too

 

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[treequip]

Yes definitely a pollard. Cut it off about 3 ft above where it came off and good for another 200 years. Think of the wildlife.

 

Its worth a go at least, and if it dies, call it vertical firewood seasoning or a habitat pole.