Rotten trunk advice appreciated

[Catweazle]

I have a medium hornbeam that has rotted down the middle, it's a very lopsided tree and it's overhanging a (private) path so I think it needs to come down. Do you agree ?

 

Pics;

 

 

 

[Yorkshireman]

erm you seem to have come to your own conclusion

Edited September 4, 2009 by Yorkshireman

[Catweazle]

erm you seem to have come to your own conclusion

 

I wanted confirmation really, I'm not a tree-pro, just an enthusiastic amateur.

[plippy]

dude it clearly needs to go

[Lee Winger]

looks like it might have been hit by lightning at some time

[gibbon]

I'll bet it could be "saved" with a little pruning

[Catweazle]

I'll bet it could be "saved" with a little pruning

 

Would it survive being pollarded ? I have a few hornbeam pollards already, but none are rotten like this one.

[gibbon]

More than likely it would survive pollarding. Looks to be an old wound so it has lasted this long. Its hard to give an opinion based on photos but I might not prune as hard as pollarding.

[Mesterh]

I dont mind condemning another hornbeam, fell it

 

They can usually take a good bit of a topping so it could be a last resort to felling.Although obviously depends on the health/vigour of the tree, any full size pics to ponder over?

[Dionysus]

why not remove the crown and leave as a standing stem or with just a few poles. that way your removing the weight and the sail effect on the tree but keeping a very nice habitat for all the beasties.