Putting preesure on tree away from the home

[anon7]

Hey so I live in NC and we have a rotten huge tree that swings a lot, we haven't been able to afford to take it down and with the possible upcoming hurricane Irma, I wanted to know if anyone has any tips n tricks on how to put pressure on the tree away from the home incase the winds are too much for the tree and it ends up breaking. I am also on a really low budget, cant afford no 100 dollar gadgets or anything. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Hmmmm...

Here's a very simple solution without definitions and detailed descriptions

Get a rope choked around the trunk as high as possible. Tie off the other end of the rope to the base of another tree. If you can put another rope in so much the better

Think of how antenna are guyed out

Find the strongest rope possible

Call your homeowners insurance company first to make sure that you have coverage for tree damage

 

[anon7]

That is really good advice and I have the perfect tree to do it with, thank you! I just called and yea it does cover it but if I can avoid it then why not. Thanks again!!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

if there aren't pictures it didn't happen.

Before pics now...after...well...after

 

[JeffGu]

Leave instructions for next of kin to upload the "after" pics if you're going to stand out there and watch to see if it works.

 

[Daniel]

Tying a wrench or clevis pin or screw link that weighs about 10-16 oz. to some string line, maybe from a kite or contractors string line may help. Through that through a crotch in the upper canopy. You want to get the line through a crotch at least 2/3 the height of the tree if possible.. Use that pilot line to pull through a stronger rope.. Arborist ropes tend to run around 7,000 lbs tensile, so look for something as close to that as possible... clothes line isn't going to do you much good in hurricane force winds..
Then either send up a running bowline if you can isolate the line (no interfering branches).. or you can use a fishing pole style tie off, where the end of the rope runs through the crotch down the tree and is tied off to the base of the tree.

You'll be looking for an anchor point (the other tree that your're tying off to), to be at 45º angleor more level if possible. If you can use multiple lines then that's all the better.. good luck with it

 

[JeffGu]

Might be a better idea to rent an appropriate chainsaw and fell the tree away from the house before it hits, assuming there's room and no valuable targets. It's less likely to destroy the house if it's already on the ground. You can always cut it up and clean up the mess when it's all over. If you don't have experience with felling trees, you can probably find somebody local who does, and pay them $50 to put it on the ground safely. Just another option.