Fire in garden, can trees be saved?

[Codythedog]

Recently had a fire at the bottom of our garden. A tree surgeon told us the trees will die and eventually go brittle and collapse. I’ve been advised to chop into the tree slightly to see if the tree is still alive but I’ve no idea how to tell. Can anyone guide me based off of the pictures? These are three different trees.

[AHPP]

2 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I meant no real snark. 
I just think if a homeowner or someone outside the trade comes on asking a genuine question, I like to see them get an informed factual answer, or at least an attempt at one. 
Not misled through ignorance or mischief. 

 

I'm not sure who was being misleading through ignorance or mischief but it wasn't me. I didn't give a botanical answer because I know that I don't know enough to give one. I did do exactly as I'd do standing in the garden, try to serve their interests. If they can do without that bit of garden, just leave it for six months and look again. If their daughter's getting married here in three weeks, I'll cut them down tomorrow, sir.

 

If he wants strictly botanical advice, it won't cost him anything to forget what I said.

[Codythedog]

I don’t know what more I can show that would help to inform your advice and I appreciate it. The trees are giving us privacy from a public path which our property backs on to. So without the trees we wouldn’t be able to put fences up high enough to give us privacy without getting planning permission to do so. Trees are the only way to do it and if these trees don’t survive then no privacy until new trees that could be planted grow tall enough to block the view again. So ideally we would love to keep the trees but if they won’t survive anyway then we can fell them, cost is a factor but privacy is arguably a more important factor for us.

[AHPP]

Cool. Leave them for a bit. See how they do.

 

Turns out I'm not a cunnt, Mick.

[Excels1or]

1 hour ago, Codythedog said:

I don’t know what more I can show that would help to inform your advice and I appreciate it. The trees are giving us privacy from a public path which our property backs on to. So without the trees we wouldn’t be able to put fences up high enough to give us privacy without getting planning permission to do so. Trees are the only way to do it and if these trees don’t survive then no privacy until new trees that could be planted grow tall enough to block the view again. So ideally we would love to keep the trees but if they won’t survive anyway then we can fell them, cost is a factor but privacy is arguably a more important factor for us.

Retain the trees where you can. It would be good if you could keep us updated, see what happens

[Mick Dempsey]

7 hours ago, AHPP said:

Cool. Leave them for a bit. See how they do.

 

Turns out I'm not a cunnt, Mick.

I wouldn’t go that far!

[Tree monkey 1682]

3 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I wouldn’t go that far!

What I don't understand, is the following 

If the trees are valuable then, why have a fire under them? 

B) if you've already had a tree surgeon out surely you must not trust him if you're after a second opinion? 

C) as much as are opinions are varied you can't expect us to give you advise on trees we've not even seen? I mean it'd be like asking a builder to build things with no plan! 

D) I didn't realise that the average Jo had access to this site for free info.... Maybe we should ask for something of munitary value, to go to an arb charity or air ambulance charity..... After all this is our profession, time, knowledge and ultimate our unique skill set they are getting getting free... 

As for being a c word, well surely we have all seen how forest fires start and how well conifers burn... Surely it wasn't wise to light a fire underneath to start with... 

This is just mearly an observation not a moan.. 

[Codythedog]

I feel like answering sarcastically but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you’re not trying to be vindictive. Firstly, we did not light the fire. We have a public path behind our house/garden. It has been so warm and dry it could have simply been a discarded cigarette from someone walking past, or arson. But we don’t know. We were out at the time and came back home to zero fence panels and burned trees.

 

Secondly, we know nothing about trees. We have had one opinion, another coming today hopefully to assess and thought we would reach out through the power of internet for some second opinions. It’s not that we don’t trust the tree surgeon, SHE actually came recommended and I thought she was very professional but we don’t know any better. We were reaching out because we are stressed and don’t want to get rid of the trees if we can help it but we don’t want them dying anyway and doing further damage when they collapse.

 

Thirdly, I’m sure there is somewhere you can monetise your advice. Go have a look. But I’ve got to say, even though opinions on here are varied it has been hugely appreciated just having second opinions based off of the limited information I can give. I had no idea there was anything like this out there and I’ve probably learned more about trees in the past two weeks than I have ever learned and I’m still not a tree surgeon so it won’t impact your unique skill. My unique skill is being able to spell. Sorry to eventually be sarcastic.

[Stere]

So in last picture are the still green bits lower down different trees that avoided the fire or are they all part of the same tree?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 09:20 by Stere

[sime42]

12 hours ago, Codythedog said:

I don’t know what more I can show that would help to inform your advice and I appreciate it. The trees are giving us privacy from a public path which our property backs on to. So without the trees we wouldn’t be able to put fences up high enough to give us privacy without getting planning permission to do so. Trees are the only way to do it and if these trees don’t survive then no privacy until new trees that could be planted grow tall enough to block the view again. So ideally we would love to keep the trees but if they won’t survive anyway then we can fell them, cost is a factor but privacy is arguably a more important factor for us.

 

Cheers for the full picture.

 

Whatever you do now then, it's probably only going to be an interim measure. I still think those trees are doomed to die soon or in the not too distant future. If and when they do definitely die it might be an idea to get them reduced as low as possible, whilst still maintaining the privacy screen. How high do you need then to be roughly? It's easier and safer to do the climbing/cutting work when the wood is still sound, rather than waiting until they start to rot and fail. (Also there might be a liability issue if they're close to a public path?). 

 

If room in the garden allows you could also plant a row of replacement trees at this stage, suitably spaced back from the original line. You should be able to achieve an uninterrupted privacy screen over time then. Maybe even deploy some kind of climbing plant to help bulk up the trunks on the original trees. 

 

 

 

[AHPP]

Not enough context on photos to say confidently but I bet they'll stand safely for at least five years, probably 8-10. Let the microbes do just enough and it'll be less stuff to get rid of when they do have to come down.