Vandals. Grrr!

[Tom Dunlap]

It might be an invitation to a fight to cage that tree.

Symbolic escalation has sure been part of my thoughts too,

 

[RyanCafferky]

I would paint crying eyes on the tree. Maybe the kid has a heart and that will get through to him more than escalating with other reactions.

 

[ClimbingTN]

Sounds like a kid needs to work off the value of the tree. Maybe someone can have him load brush, firewood or something tree related. School teacher approach with a paper written regarding trees roles in our environment! Craig

 

[ATH]

Sounds like a kid needs to work off the value of the tree. Maybe someone can have him load brush, firewood or something tree related. School teacher approach with a paper written regarding trees roles in our environment! Craig

Good luck with that. I'm not disagreeing...but something like that would take parental support. I don't have a lot of hope that'll happen just based on what I see in society. But if they will support it, that's a great idea, or planting a couple trees in a park. I bet people would donate the tree if they knew a kid will plant it.

 

[Bart_]

If you get the legal situation clinched in your favour, maybe the restitution of calling the tree a goner could be the kid works at planting the replacement tree, and maybe foots the bill.

 

[Rusticus]

Go talk to his dad and mom. I remember the shame of my neighbor showing up telling my parents what they saw me doing. It also proves you know where he lives...

 

[Daniel]

That's a deep wound, that will likely be the beginning of the end for that tree. You gotta wonder why?

Also wonder if you could put in some metal support rods flush with the bark, about an inch near the edge of the notch. Drill some holes straight thru and instal bolts that attacch to the vertical support rods... let the bark grow over the metal in time. maybe 5 to 6' long.

and go dig another tree from the woods..

 

[flushcut]

I gotta ask but have you had a certified arborist come out and assess the tree?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

@Daniel The picture doesn't illustrate the actual dimensions of the wound. . that's a shortcoming of the camera lense and my composition

I know catalpa in this area. It doesn't need physical support like you suggest.

Its hardly The End for the tree.

@flushcut Hmmm...I wonder what credence a formerly-ISA Certified Arborist would have.The one that I know is retired after being a CA for decades. In fact he's the one who ran off the vandals.

 

[Daniel]

@Daniel The picture doesn't illustrate the actual dimensions of the wound. . that's a shortcoming of the camera lense and my composition

I know catalpa in this area. It doesn't need physical support like you suggest.

Its hardly The End for the tree.

@flushcut Hmmm...I wonder what credence a formerly-ISA Certified Arborist would have.The one that I know is retired after being a CA for decades. In fact he's the one who ran off the vandals.

Beginning of the end from the look of it. The end could be 25 years from now... that wound will never compartmentalize. So it's only a question of if the tree can put on enough new wood to stay standing before the decay destabilize it. Though I'm looking at beautiful catalpas in my backyard right now, I haven't done enough work on the species to know how they respond to that type of wounding. I'm guessing that's a good thing.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Many years ago I was chatting with Mark Duntemen [sp?]

His main income at the time was to do tree surveys for condos, cities,etc

Hazard ratings were one data point

Our conversation went to which trees were on top/bottom or best/worst lists based on various criteria.

He told me that he had around 2 million trees in his data bank.

Given that I asked what species was least hazardous

He said that they would crunch numbers and NEVER had catalpa turn up on any hazard rating list.

Impressive

 

[Treezybreez]

Many years ago I was chatting with Mark Duntemen [sp?]

His main income at the time was to do tree surveys for condos, cities,etc

Hazard ratings were one data point

Our conversation went to which trees were on top/bottom or best/worst lists based on various criteria.

He told me that he had around 2 million trees in his data bank.

Given that I asked what species was least hazardous

He said that they would crunch numbers and NEVER had catalpa turn up on any hazard rating list.

Impressive

I remember one fatality that involved a man who was cutting down a Catalpa tree. Somewhere in the tree buzz archives. I think he was struck on the neck by a section, if my memory is correct?

 

[Stumpsprouts]

I haven't done enough work on the species to know how they respond to that type of wounding.

One of the most vigorous response growths I’ve seen.

Should be planted in urban environments more! Great in places where ailanthus dominates.

He said that they would crunch numbers and NEVER had catalpa turn up on any hazard rating list.

I love this. Amazing. I did pull one catalpa off a house after Helene (with two cranes, hilariously, butt cut pictured below) and another just around the block was a real head scratcher death trap, right next to some of the only power lines that were still standing in the neighborhood, on top of a car, no crane access, yadda yadda. But I think they were just unlucky trees.

They also make enviable wood. Some buds picked up a log from a removal I did last year, milled it, and loved it so much it ended up being featured heavily in their building project. Yay! Catalpas!

 

[ATH]

....

Should be planted in urban environments more! Great in places where ailanthus dominates.
....!

If not for the pods, the would be. I've tried to talk people into them. I think the pods are not horrible. They mostly come off with the leaves so if you are raking the leaves, what's the big deal?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Many years ago I was chatting with Mark Duntemen [sp?]

His main income at the time was to do tree surveys for condos, cities,etc

Hazard ratings were one data point

Our conversation went to which trees were on top/bottom or best/worst lists based on various criteria.

He told me that he had around 2 million trees in his data bank.

Given that I asked what species was least hazardous

He said that they would crunch numbers and NEVER had catalpa turn up on any hazard rating list.

Impressive

Marks brilliant.

 

[Winchman]

Tom, I know it's off topic, but could you fix whatever it is that keeps me from getting emails when something is added to posts I'm following. Everything in my settings looks correct and it was working fine for a long time, but now it's not.
Thanks!!

 

[flushcut]

So what’s the treatment plan? Some bark tracing, chiseling out the loose bits?

I’ve worked some real mush bags of catalpa,

 

[Matias]

Isn't there more than one kind of catalpa? Are they all generally so resilient, or is there a better variety to look for? I too have seen a few mushy catalpas that were falling apart.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Northern and southern catalpa

This is northern

I will clean up the loose bits. just a little bit ofrough edge cleanup

Wrap with heavy Saran

Other arbos who know this species agree that the wound will close quicekly

I think I might add a facemask to the tree. Get a copy of The Scream enlarged so thqt the mouth fits the wound. trim off around the facial part of the painting and have it laminated.

 

[evo]

Northern and southern catalpa

This is northern

I will clean up the loose bits. just a little bit ofrough edge cleanup

Wrap with heavy Saran

Other arbos who know this species agree that the wound will close quicekly

I think I might add a facemask to the tree. Get a copy of The Scream enlarged so thqt the mouth fits the wound. trim off around the facial part of the painting and have it laminated.

Or just line the margins with fake teeth!