lightning struck tree.

[Gardenmac]

Kids safety first mate, that's gotta go. If it fails who will they come after. If you do reduce and brace it will only get more rot into trunk if the split runs so deep. That's only my opinion others may differ but for me if it poises a danger to kids now or in the future it's gotta go.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Gardenmac
More detail

[Gray git]

Get rid of it. Bracing, bolting and cabaling is a form of admitting there's a problem with the tree and if anything happens a prosecution is more likely.

If your client is dead set On retaining the Tree why not recommend an independent arb consultants report then if they recommend any works, you do it following those recommended works your covered.

[treeseer]

"if it poises a danger to kids now or in the future it's gotta go."

 

If this is true, kids will have to grow up without trees. But wait--cars are a danger to them too, so they gotta go. Kids can die from bee stings, so get rid of all those flowers too!

 

Perception of risk is exaggerated here. Kids don't play under the tree during storms, when failures are more likely. Target rating is Zero when occupancy is Zero.

 

Pruning hazardous branches is also a form of admitting there's a problem with the tree. If you don't know what you're doing, either learn how or yes, recommend an arborist or a consultant. If you do know how to work to BS standard, just do it.

 

When installing brace rods, it's amazing how cracks can close by turning the nut. Any increase in decay, AND increase in response growth, can be monitored and adjusted for in the future.

[colemanjessenz]

"if it poises a danger to kids now or in the future it's gotta go."

 

If this is true, kids will have to grow up without trees. But wait--cars are a danger to them too, so they gotta go. Kids can die from bee stings, so get rid of all those flowers too!

 

Perception of risk is exaggerated here. Kids don't play under the tree during storms, when failures are more likely. Target rating is Zero when occupancy is Zero.

 

Pruning hazardous branches is also a form of admitting there's a problem with the tree. If you don't know what you're doing, either learn how or yes, recommend an arborist or a consultant. If you do know how to work to BS standard, just do it.

 

When installing brace rods, it's amazing how cracks can close by turning the nut. Any increase in decay, AND increase in response growth, can be monitored and adjusted for in the future.

 

Well said man.

Trees only produce oxygen

 

 

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Edited December 23, 2013 by colemanjessenz

[Gardenmac]

"Kids don't play under trees during storms"

True but they do take shelter and believe it to be safe as with

 

Young boy eight years old, died when he was crushed by the 120ft tall, 300 year old beech which was blown down in winds of up to 67mph on New Year's Day 2005.

 

Tree had been regularly inspected and was deemed safe.... Your opinion is to brace the tree, mine is to take it out and replace with a healthy specimen. We all do things differently and have a different perception of risk. But when you manage spaces for the public you have to reduce the risk because its you they come after when things of wrong.

 

Merry Christmas and stay safe out there.

[Gray git]

Trees don't just fail during storms, adverse weather can weaken them to a point of failure but not fall till something ells tips the balance eg a particularly fat pigeon landing in the tree.

How many times have you felled a Tree for it to get hung up on next to nowt so you walk off to get a felling bar or wedges for the tree to suddenly fall on its own accord when the holding wood/twig snaps from the strain, this can happen within the crown of a tree days after a storm. I have 1st hand experience of this having attended a split Tree in a park, still standing on a carm day and while we were setting up and I was fueling my topper half the tree peeled out and made my job a whole lot easier. Glad I wasn't up it at the time!

I'm not saying we need to remove all trees from public areas but removing something identified as high risk is just good practice Imo

[Marc]

"Kids don't play under trees during storms"

True but they do take shelter and believe it to be safe as with

 

Young boy eight years old, died when he was crushed by the 120ft tall, 300 year old beech which was blown down in winds of up to 67mph on New Year's Day 2005.

 

Tree had been regularly inspected and was deemed safe.... Your opinion is to brace the tree, mine is to take it out and replace with a healthy specimen. We all do things differently and have a different perception of risk. But when you manage spaces for the public you have to reduce the risk because its you they come after when things of wrong.

 

Merry Christmas and stay safe out there.

 

As tragic as that was, it serves no real relevance other than to prove how low the risk is as incidents of fatalities are so low considering how common place trees are. I think Treeseer has a valid point in that we can be often over zealous in our approach to risk management.

 

As for the tree is question I'd have to see it in the real before I'd even consider giving an opinion.

I'd probably fell and replace as any remedial work over the life of the tree would be costly with no guarantee that an arborist of equal understand or the original arborist would maintain the management plan.

Been called out to plenty of failures where bracing has fail because the owner did not keep up with the prescribed management/inspection program.

[Gary Prentice]

As tragic as that was, it serves no real relevance other than to prove how low the risk is as incidents of fatalities are so low considering how common place trees are. I think Treeseer has a valid point in that we can be often over zealous in our approach to risk management.

 

As for the tree is question I'd have to see it in the real before I'd even consider giving an opinion.

I'd probably fell and replace as any remedial work over the life of the tree would be costly with no guarantee that an arborist of equal understand or the original arborist would maintain the management plan.

Been called out to plenty of failures where bracing has fail because the owner did not keep up with the prescribed management/inspection program.

 

Some valid points. I think the OP said the clients wishes were to retain the tree if possible, which may change the situation and decision on the specification. Unfortunately we've no crystal ball to see into the future as regards to the future management, but a well written management plan is probably the best we can do. It would go a long way to absolving liability if it wasn't followed and the worse scenario occurred.

[Gardenmac]

As tragic as that was, it serves no real relevance other than to prove how low the risk is as incidents of fatalities are so low considering how common place trees are. I think Treeseer has a valid point in that we can be often over zealous in our approach to risk management.

 

As for the tree is question I'd have to see it in the real before I'd even consider giving an opinion.

I'd probably fell and replace as any remedial work over the life of the tree would be costly with no guarantee that an arborist of equal understand or the original arborist would maintain the management plan.

Been called out to plenty of failures where bracing has fail because the owner did not keep up with the prescribed management/inspection program.

 

Having spent 35 years managing public spaces and looking at the pics I would take the tree out and replace. That's not me being over zealous that's simply my opinion. I have seen far too many attempts at saving damaged trees that aren't then monitored, managed or maintained.

 

I would want to see the tree for myself before making a final decision, but from the pics and the extent of damage shown if that tree was on one of my sites it would be taken down and replaced.

[treeseer]

As with risk perception, cost of works and inspections can be exaggerated.

 

The steel is warrantied for 30 years.