Large oak advice/input

[Dr.Green]

I recently carried out work on a property which has had work granted to many trees. The last bit of work was a large oak to have a 1m prune on the canopy

 

Upon starting the job I had myself a very good look over this tree, I've attached a few pictures. I knew about the cavity in the base however once climbed I noticed the 2 first large limbs were Completly hollow thus showing the decay is min 12ft up the stem, I can now put my hand under almost every corner of the base,The crown has nothing on the inside branch wise and plenty deadwood, the site stands on clay so it's waterlogged a lot which I guess hasn't helped things

 

I decided not to take there money for this part of the whole job as it could be better spent on

A-a proper inspection using specialist kit

b-full removal (which is a right shame)

C-heavy reduction

D-rather than full removal cut right back to produce a scary looking evil dead tree with a main stem and large limbs

 

Any input is always welcomed

Edited March 15, 2015 by Dr.Green

[Dr.Green]

Few pics

[Dr.Green]

Taking ages to add pictures from iphone. I will add more the correct way round on computer later this evening.

[Gary Prentice]

Any more pic's?

[treeseer]

Interior decay is so scary. All hollow trees should be burned, and their ashes buried, so the evil does not spread.

RETRENCHING HOLLOW TREES FOR LIFE 131226 tcia.docx

[Dr.Green]

ok guys , sorry for the delay - internet has been down.

 

customer didn't even relies the inside was so bad , until i tore a chunk of dry brown out and gave it to her…

 

edited - I've no idea why its showing my pics upside-down , they are fine on my computers …. il see if i can sort it sorry guys

[Dr.Green]

here goes again , fingers crossed they are the right way around

[Dr.Green]

absolutely no idea how to sort the pics - were my hand is under the base , that is the opposite side of the hollow entrance . there are a further 2 smaller but hand size section that are like this too

 

I've a feeling the council will say no to removal but owner loves the tree, but safety is a issue

 

please fire away with all comments , I'm to get in touch with TO and put forward a case for more work - i.e. , heavy reduction , thou owner wants a tree with a canopy - or full removal on safety grounds

 

it could stand for years but I've informed my customer i don't have a crystal ball only advice

[treeseer]

This tree's hollow 5'+ of its 6' diameter at the ground. This pic is 3 months after a <9% reduction, <10 cm cuts, <2 m lengths. The northern portion of the crown was left alone, as it damped movement torether with the tree to the north.

 

Perhaps try pulling the sod away from the edges of the hole, and look for woundwood growth.

 

If you find woundwood at the margins, there is no cause for panic. I've heard on good account that one of your kings hid in a hollow oak, with his horse, and the tree still stands 400 years later.

No great urgency re felling or mutilation..

 

I've seen 'ruin' as a spec for tree pruning, written by qualified arbs.

But I cannot understand what or why that is.

Who do we think we are?

Edited March 18, 2015 by treeseer

[Mountain man]

No it's a different tree Guy, the first one fell over and killed a carriage full of 17th century school children!

Joking, but no, that tree no longer exists