Large Scaffold Branch Down

[Fatcord]

Got called out after one of these Texas storms to a house that had a large scaffold branch down from a cottonwood. The limb of course was the lowest and largest on the tree. When it fell it took out several smaller tree's below it. When it ripped away from the tree it pulled the heart out from behind the limb leaving about a 9" hole not to mention the bark and cambium pulled away. The home owner tells me the tree has been injured bad in the psat and that it has done fine. This wound is pretty big. The tree is fairly old I personally dont see how the tree is not going to fail. And it is about 2' away from there house. What should I tell the home owner?
Big Toe

 

[treedimensional]

The limb opposite the wound looks hinky too! You have any more pics of the whole tree?

Looks like a old lightening strike to me!

Warm up your NEW-TO-YOU chipper.

 

[Fatcord]

let me see if i can find more pics
It is only the base Cant figure how to post multiple pics

 

[tomthetreeman]

Looks like a removal to me. That cavity is not going to 'heal,' it is going to be a big pocket of decay, right at a leverage point in the tree. ¡Hazard!

-Tom

 

[roxy]

Of course, write a removal bid for the client. It does seeem that this client has a high risk tolerance, though, so don't be surprised if they just want a reduction pruning or big hazardous deadwood prune. Just get your first recommendation down in writing, that's all, and show it as being rejected by the client.