Well, when you decide to plan(t) trees. . .

[Sigarms]

I'm still trying to figure out why people plant trees under power lines. Down the road a couple of miles, a guy planted leyland cyprus trees in a straight row at the end of his property running parallel tot he road, and that row of trees running directly under a power line running parallel to the road as well. When they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap.

 

[ponytug]

We should have jackets for the club. We have some big bay trees near the house. Even trimming is pricey.

Have a look at August Hunicke's YouTube channel if you want to see some creative ways to remove trees in tight areas. East side tree removal has some pretty interesting tight quarter tree removals. (e.g. Backyard Doug Fir Removal Part 1) I assume that there are talented folks around here, too, but I have never seen anyone local use the roping techniques for dropping limbs shown in these videos. One local team does use arboreal ropes to move around in the trees, so no more tree climbing spikes/spurs.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'm still trying to figure out why people plant trees under power lines. Down the road a couple of miles, a guy planted leyland cyprus trees in a straight row at the end of his property running parallel tot he road, and that row of trees running directly under a power line running parallel to the road as well. When they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap.

>Then they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap<

yep - here in Georgia power company will help you out more than that. My SIL decided she wanted to plant 120 of them - UNDER the power lines. Good fertilizer and plenty of water and viola!, within 5 years she had 25' tall Leland Cyprus trees. The power company gave her 1 week to top them - or else. Next week they came out and dropped all 120 to the ground.

At that same time I also planted 20. 10 died due to my lack of doing the fertilizer and water thing. The remaining 10 are now 8 years old and up to about 20' tall. On the upside, none are under power lines. Beautiful trees, but they do require a little forethought when planting them.

 

[TractorGuy]

My sister and wife planted a crepe myrtle right smack dab in the entrance of our drain field. Guess what? A new drain field routed beside the old was $2500. I removed the tree but they wouldn't even talk about bypassing the clog and repairing the old. If I would have had my backhoe back then I would have just fixed it myself. I was able to dig the tree out with my old 855 and probably could have fixed it myself with that but it would have been a lot of digging and work and the drain field already had some age on it.

 

[Sigarms]

At that same time I also planted 20. 10 died due to my lack of doing the fertilizer and water thing. The remaining 10 are now 8 years old and up to about 20' tall. On the upside, none are under power lines. Beautiful trees, but they do require a little forethought when planting them.

If I plant any myself, they will be staggard and at least 10' apart, not the 5' I've read. Guy who put about 150 here for privacy did all the watering with irrigation hose, but once they start growing taller AND wider, need more space IMO. I get the fact that people what the limbs of the other trees touching each other for more privacy, but think they would last longer if people gave them more space.

 

[two_bit_score]

>Then they get much bigger, power company will be around to top them off so they don't hit the power line and it will look like crap<

yep - here in Georgia power company will help you out more than that. My SIL decided she wanted to plant 120 of them - UNDER the power lines. Good fertilizer and plenty of water and viola!, within 5 years she had 25' tall Leland Cyprus trees. The power company gave her 1 week to top them - or else. Next week they came out and dropped all 120 to the ground.

At that same time I also planted 20. 10 died due to my lack of doing the fertilizer and water thing. The remaining 10 are now 8 years old and up to about 20' tall. On the upside, none are under power lines. Beautiful trees, but they do require a little forethought when planting them.

WOW! They were serious!

 

[beowulf]

Have a look at August Hunicke's YouTube channel if you want to see some creative ways to remove trees in tight areas.

Thanks ponytug for the video. Interesting to see them do that. I took out another one yesterday - 64 feet high. The shot of the de-branched trunk was after I already took off about 15 feet off the top - I had to climb the tree to get that done as the ladder only went so far. I then took off another 10 feet or so and then dropped the rest of it using straps and the tractor to guide where it fell. This one was about 18 feet from the house. Trunk 28" where I cut it.

 

[Sigarms]

WOW! They were serious!

They weren't serious, they were smart.

Have a line running to the back field for a light. Power company said they wanted to trim the tree directly under that line, I told them just to take it completely out. They only trimmed the tree. Guess what trees do? They grow.

Now, trees may grow slowly when "topped off" at the top to ensure enough clearance under a power line, and one tree over the span of 5-10 years may not be too bad to handle, BUT... you have 120 trees to top off, it may take a little longer to cut everything to the stump, but it sure will save you a lot of time over the next 50 years.

My only problem with the power company is they don't seem to have standards as to what is to be expected when brush / trees are taken down. They sub it out which is another issue...

Save yourself the headache, don't plant trees under a power line.

 

[Sigarms]

East side tree removal has some pretty interesting tight quarter tree removals. (e.g. Backyard Doug Fir Removal Part 1) I assume that there are talented folks around here, too, but I have never seen anyone local use the roping techniques for dropping limbs shown in these videos. One local team does use arboreal ropes to move around in the trees, so no more tree climbing spikes/spurs.

All the best,

Peter

Pete, thanks for the video!

Thing is, it's only a tree.

Guy gives you a quote of $250 vs $2,500 to take down ONE tree, who you going with? (throw insurance out the window because real men don't need insurance because they know what they're doing, at least in NC!).

In all seriousness, had a bunch of river birches taken down that was hanging over our roof. I was completely amazed of the skill of a couple of the guys doing the climbing, cutting and rope work.

Guys doing the climbing were busting on "tree companies" with bucket trucks, and with their skill, rightfully so IMO. Guess it's easier to find guys who can cut limbs in a bucket truck vs climbing and knowing what you're doing.