Limb with concrete

[stheis004]

Just was at an estimate where customer who just moved into a house has a 24” silver maple limb that’s pretty horizontal and they want significant weight off of it as it’s growing over their home. Towards the base of the limb that spreads out about 60’ is a cavity that I can see has been filled with concrete.

Taking off the necessary branches for the roof clearance will definitely cause the limb to spring up some. Knowing there is a cavity filled with rigid material at the base of this limb concerns me and I’m thinking of just passing, but has anyone dealt with a similar situation.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Can the concrete be removed. Battery impact tools might make it easy

Reduce like you propose

Cable maybe

 

[Woodwork]

Why do people put concrete in trees? "Concretion Of Decay In Trees"???

Seems crazy, but I'm not an arborist. It's gotta be great for chainsaws.

 

[oldoakman]

I agree with Tom. I would set a rope to support the limb while doing the work and prior to installing the cable. It might turn out that the entire limb needs to be removed.

Woodwork, in the old-old days before even mine and Tom's time, the mark of a "Tree Surgeon" was the quality of his cavity work. Bartlett and Davey held classes to train their employees. It all goes to the idea to treat trees like we treat humans.