Disaster Strikes my Sycamore Tree

Are you originally from Nebraska EQ?

Umm, not exactly. I wasn't born in our country. I did grow up in the State of Michigan though. Does that count or am I sort of close but no bananas?

Many of you probably don't know this disturbing bit of background about Equil. I found it accidentally while researching one of my favorite trees, and I guess it's time to share it here with everyone so you'll all know to give her a little slack when she acts in a peculiar manner sometimes -- she really has overcome a lot to be here with us.

Equil was born in a little Middle-Eastern sheikdom called Al Bizim. Its contributions to world culture included Pink Floyd and the original pink Flamingo. The national drink was pink lemonade, always drunk with a raised pinkie. Its borders were patroled by retired Pinkerton agents driving pink Cadillacs.

Sadly, it no longer exists -- the population crashed below critical mass when Equil moved away. The sheik then committed suicide with a pinking shears, and the place was conquered by Romulus and Rhamnus. Funny thing, it never was big enough to appear on any map. But the tiniest bits of it affect its former residents like Kryptonite affects Superman. The legend says that any former citizen of Al Bizim is driven to destroy all traces of it before they are brought to their knees by its strange power over them.

So when she misses DG threads, slams her hands in her car door, breaks her shovel handles, breaks various bones, rants about beautiful innocent trees, loses all of the wire flags marking her new plantings, etc., we all need to realize that she's still giving it everything she's got and we should show a little patience!

Guy S.

You must know Guy that the word "Shiekdom" in arabic means a pale red color of blossom. This is best embodied in the color pink. Another overlooked character of Al Bazim is there first successful entrenpenure and her name was "Mary Kay". Her fame still exists today in the icon of a pink caddilac given to only those who sell the most "Shiekdom" colored facial accutrements to the "X" population. This is further embodied in the first known pilgrim from Al Bazim known as Erica the Pink.

Gosh you two, didn't your Mommas tell you it wasn't nice to tell secrets on the playground?

Why I'm virtually speechless and that doesn't happen all that frequently.

It sounds like a lovely country. All that pink and all. I was wondering what this
albizium stuff was about... now I know.
Tam

I think Guy that Equil is saying that she is awestruck in our deep understanding of the origions of words and historical knowledge. Yes I still love you Equil and what would I do without people who are confident in who they are and what they represent.

There's plenty left on the sycamore shown in the image.

It may get some sunburn - maybe.

Anyhow, if it were mine, I'd just leave it as is and let it sprout naturally. Then in two years, about winter of 2008, I'd thin the top of excess sprouts and reestablish a framework of branches.

As a certified arborist, that would be my own choice if it were my tree (provided that there is not extra damage or splitting not seen in the image).

Tree correction can't be rushed. It frequently takes 2 to 4 years to correct tree damage. You are probably looking at 2 years for a reasonable looking tree.

(Unless the top tissue sunburned - then you have an issue)

I recall that this tree got "topped" during a storm in '98 or '99. Two leaders grew and
I was able to take one out with a pole pruner. Are sycamore's subject to wind damage?

How can I tell if there is sun damage at the top?

Thanks MDVaden

Tam

I thought this thread was done or I wouldn't have tried to hijack it, sorry. I think someone needs to go up there and inspect the break. Regardless of what they find, cut the broken stub back to sound, unsplintered wood, preferably just above a side limb. Then follow some of the advice above either from Mario or from John, depending upon what you find up there. The previous damage probably wasn't treated this way, which might have helped to cause this current damage.

Guy S.

So how old is that image? Is that 6 years ago. I'm guessing so, based off what you just wrote.

Did you enjoy the workout with the pole saw?

I can't think of anything harder, if it lasts for a while. A lady in Grants Pass, Oregon hired me in June, to do some pruning that was about 4 hours of steady pole pruning with 8' to 20' worth of fiberglass pole sections. I only have to do about one of those project per 6 months. Thank-goodness.

Sorry for the confusion- the picture is recent. This is the SECOND time I lost the leader from this tree.
The first time I was able to clean up the top with a pole pruner (but perhaps not well enough).
This time it is WAY to tall. Either EQ is going to have to visit, my DH is going to have to climb up
there or I'll have to figure out how to get a real arborist out here!

Tam

I like to eat. I like to eat a lot. I'm not an arborist but if there are Thin Mint cookies in the deal for me I could bring my chain saw and pretend to be an arborist. Of course I'd have to sneak around and get tips from an arborist to get a chance at scoring cookies but hey... I'm game. Will your husband be assisting? Will you have a private ambulance in the driveway waiting for me and your husband... just in case?

Tam, don't fall for that cookie-for-chainsaw ruse. Evil probably saw an Albizia somewhere in the background of your photo and has her evil plans for it!

Get the arborist. It's time to do the right thing.

Guy S.

Oh my... so many options! I love options.

EQ is game to experiment, with a chainsaw, on my tree. And I give her cookies & have a private
ambulence standing by.

Or my DH (who does not have my name as his insurance benefitiary) could climb up that very tall tree.
The same DH who broke his ribs bouncing off the deck after starting to clean out the gutters.

Or an actual real arborist ... who won't have anything to do with this property.

Oh my ... what's a gal to do!
Tam

Ohhhhhhh no. I just chopped down maybe 20+ of those horrible tree of heaven trees.
I cut every seed pod off and put them in the trash so they wouldn't seed themself as I
pull the trees across the property to our burn pile. And we're gonna have a HUGE bonfire
burning those trees from he@#. No more abomination trees for this property. No siree.

And how do I get ahold of this Guido guy? I'm starting to get a complex about these
arborists. You'd think they'd love my place! Lots of tree work around here.

Tam

Goey Guido = Guy = StarhillForest

He likes huge bonfires and healthy heart food. Honest!

OOoooooohhhh... that's great! Guy - I'll have the tofu stir-fry w/brocoli & cabbage
ready for ya when you finish up the trimming!

Tam

Yuck -- I'm not listening . . .
Besides, I don't climb trees. You'll hafta call JamesCo!

Guy S.

Man o man! I just can't get ANYONE to help here except for Thin-mint-cookie starved non-arborists.