Elm on last legs or thriving?

[Grouse]

Hi.

I hope its OK to post here as I am just a member of the public with a keen interest in trees and spend a lot of time around them.

My question is can anyone say from the photos here whether this tree is near death and likely to come crashing down or its quite healthy despite the damage at the bottom and the interesting angle? 

I am guessing its Elm and it is in bud so it's alive.

 

Thanks

Grouse

[htb]

Willow?

Where in the country is it?

[Grouse]

North Buckinghamshire 

[openspaceman]

3 hours ago, htb said:

Willow?

Where in the country is it?

Yeah, maybe crack willow and we know how they propagate

[Grouse]

Thanks for the info. 

 

I googled Crack Willow which did tell me you are correct BUT  I couldn't find anything to say to what angle they can support themselves before they give way. Given it is hanging over my drive can anyone give me a best guess or can I expect to be blocked in pretty soon! ... I do own a chainsaw though :)

 

Grouse

[Dan Maynard]

Many many trees are at an angle, no hard and fast rule about what angle is ok as trees react with extra wood and roots to balance load. However a sudden change in angle is a bad sign.

Looking at the crown I think it has been growing like that for a while as the top third is all fairly straight up. Whether it's about to fail depends on how much healthy wood there is in the base, which I don't think we can see.

So maybe, maybe not. Best guess it'll be fine for a while but get someone in who has professional indemnity insurance to have a look.

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

Thanks for the info. 

 

I googled Crack Willow which did tell me you are correct BUT  I couldn't find anything to say to what angle they can support themselves before they give way. Given it is hanging over my drive can anyone give me a best guess or can I expect to be blocked in pretty soon! ... I do own a chainsaw though

 

Grouse

With those failed unions near the base already it's plainly compromised, as the name says it's not a strong timber and it has an evolutionary trait to vegetatively propagate by layering after cracking and reaching the ground.

[Mick Dempsey]

Hit it hard if you want to keep it, it’ll fall soon enough otherwise.

Don't spare the rod.

[Grouse]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

 

If I have understood it looks like the best thing to do is get an arborist to look at it and spend some cash to have it cut back in the hope of saving it?

Only problem is it is on council land next to my house and although I would potentially pay for the work (cos I love trees) getting the council to agree and not just chop it down, and even listen to me within the next year or so is unlikely!

 

So I think the reality is it will fall down before I can intervene but at least now I know to start the process.

 

Obliged to you all