silver birch advice.

[grayedout]

Hi All , I have a silver birch on my land which has started rotting out at the base. I don't really what to take the tree down I will thinking of just take 15 ft of the top to reduce the load.. and see how it goes..

 

so my question if anyone can help is will the tree recover/grow around the top maybe even jump in to lift ( like a horse chest nut I did a couple of years ago)

 

 

Cheers

[sloth]

I guess it depends on several factors, one being 15 ft off what height tree? A silver birch won't be keen on being topped, but will likely survive if it still has plenty of canopy...

[grayedout]

Sorry good point. its about 40ft at a guess and I may only take about 10ft off .. just the very top..

 

thanks for the info ..

[Mountain man]

Go for it. It'll likely get a rot pocket at the wound, but it sounds like that's the least of its worries.

[oakum]

Can't see taking anything off the top will help rot at base. If you do take it off anyway, as Mountainman says you'll get a rot pocket where cut and then various new leaders will appear.

 

I guess the rot at base will worsen and tree will become liability within time. If it were my tree I'd fell and establish a new one to take it's place.

[MATTMOSS]

Can't see taking anything off the top will help rot at base. If you do take it off anyway, as Mountainman says you'll get a rot pocket where cut and then various new leaders will appear.

 

I guess the rot at base will worsen and tree will become liability within time. If it were my tree I'd fell and establish a new one to take it's place.

 

Or what about reduce it and plant another to take its place, then as the new tree gets established fell the other

[oakum]

Or what about reduce it and plant another to take its place, then as the new tree gets established fell the other

 

Even better

[TigerTree]

imo... birch don't reduce well, nor do they compartmentalise well, they are a short lived species.

 

Crown reduction will reduce the trees ability to fight infection.

 

If there is significant loss of crown vitality or signs of dieback, fell & replace.

 

If the crown is healthy, retain, mulch and monitor.

[detritus21]

imo... birch don't reduce well, nor do they compartmentalise well, they are a short lived species.

 

Crown reduction will reduce the trees ability to fight infection.

 

If there is significant loss of crown vitality or signs of dieback, fell & replace.

 

If the crown is healthy, retain, mulch and monitor.

 

They do reduce well if done sensitivly. They don't reduce well when people leave large pruning cuts or stubs. Small pruning cuts compartmentalise well due to the speed of growth. Ultimately though any tree work will shorten a trees life. Reducing the tree will reduce loading which in turn will reduce the risk of basal failure.

[Paul Melarange]

They do reduce well if done sensitivly. They don't reduce well when people leave large pruning cuts or stubs. Small pruning cuts compartmentalise well due to the speed of growth. Ultimately though any tree work will shorten a trees life. Reducing the tree will reduce loading which in turn will reduce the risk of basal failure.

 

👍 My sentiments exactly.

 

Please could the OP post a photo of the basal decay? I'd be interested to see.