Today we removed a tree that sort of sounds similar.
I video'd the base but should've video'd the top when we were up there, it was stuffed.
Some-one many years ago had done some horrific topping, big limbs as stubs perhaps 8 to 10" dia. There were dead branches, cankered branches, brackets up there, the crown was dying back and nowhere to reduce to really, just time for the ole chainsaw to do it's thing.
But originally I paid more attention to the fruiting bodies and decay at the trunk.
In the removal process it was really the crown that was the stuffed part. I couldn't tell the defect too well from the ground but once up in the tree many of the tops of branches were dead (perhaps scald?) There were some pretty dodgey unions too.
So I suppose it was good that it worked out that way, coz if the top was healthy lush I would have looked like a real [use a better word] when the base didn't scrub up as bad as I thought.
Anyway, I'll do the vid soon.
By the way Treemann, how did you measure the good holding wood??? Resistograph, drill etc? Just curious.
Also Guy, when dealing with basal decay and fruiting bodies we all know that decayed roots have ZERO strength ... so what do you think about the decision to leave a 35% good wood tree in when you know that the decay is only inches away from roots?? Just thinking out loud here.
