Does this tree need to come down?

[up a tree]

Hi this looks to me like a Bignonia family (Catalpa) with such a hole it must come down or heavy reduction of the frame work. Somtimes one sees this with no invasion from insect and the wood is hard only slow beggings of decay and reduction of cellulose. had to take one down before Christmas with such a large damage, but no invasion of inner wood, was sound as a pound. Lovely lots of wood for wood turning. I see a lot of these here, planted alot in Schools and lots are butchered, by DIY know better people.The second to last Catalpa had a small hole at base in school yard near sand pit realy deep, the canopy was getting weaker and weaker so it was decided it had to come down it had Dia of 60", it had no hart wood any more 40" above ground level and all hart wood into main tap roots had gone, it would have come down it self very soon.

From what I see it will not fail in one go, will tend to break and split from the size and maturity of the tree, better a new one, one can not change the past, it should of been kept small ie.polarding

or not planted where it is. Always be positive it such situations, especialy when its your neighbour.speak to the Head make a surgestion on planting a tree for the Chikdren as a project, then happen to mention the Catalpa is not very safe for the little one and could also be part of the progect over the life of tree etc.

[treeseer]

Catalpa, like Tilia or more so, is tremendously tough in its outer wood, and can stand with 90% hollowness.

When a tree loses heartwood, that's like flushing the toilet.

Light reduction pruning reduces leverage and risk.