Should I replace this Tree?

[NunSoup]

Thanks TL!

 

[guymayor]

In Raleigh I see crepemyrtle doing well in 2' strips. Let's not be so quick to sacrifice the canopy by specifying a bush.

Tear that sidewalk to pieces?? Sheesh. 4' can fit a lot of trees, IF the soil is prepared deep and wide. Volume matters far more than area, or width.

Freeman is a broad group; look it up.

 

[TreeLogic]

Guy I can show you hundreds of large trees that are in decline because they were planted in thin strips of soil. I don't think the answer is to plant the wrong tree there so we can pollard it later. The better remedy is to stop replacing planting areas with concrete. Sure soil amendment will help but roots don't grow down.

Is everything we're taught as arborists to be thrown out the window?

 

[TreeLogic]

And there are huge crepemyrtles out there. Other trees in that category would hardly be bushes.

 

[guymayor]

Roots grow down if conditions are right. If you've learned different, your teachers exaggerated shallow root systems they saw or heard about into a myth, shame on them. Shame on you if you believe the next myth without verification; like the one-way decline/mortality spiral, or that removal cuts are better than reduction cuts, or that reduction pruning is pollarding. It's too easy to jump to conclusions when the facts warrant no more than a short hop.

Crepes peak at 40' and are hugely overplanted. A small tree at best, a waste of space where 80' trees will grow. I've seen 100s of big trees growing out of walls, or pavement all around. Soil volume matters; area is relatively irrelevant.

 

[TreeLogic]

Guy, so a paradigm shift is in order for the world of arboriculture? Yes, shame on us for reading our ISA certification study guides.

FWIW I verify everything I learn by seeing it in the natural world. Uprooted trees in the undisturbed forest have wide spreading root systems. Roots have to have pore space Guy, so the deeper you go that becomes impossible.

I wasn't suggesting to plant crepes but only something along that realm of size.

You said, "I've seen 100s of big trees growing out of walls, or pavement all around." Yes, but they are dangerous, always cause problems and are expensive to maintain, and to remove when that day inevitably arrives. Canopy is canopy in the urban environment regardless of its height and a few 30' trees are beneficial to our air quality just like a 90' tree. The difference is there is less uproar when replacing the three 30' trees compared to removing the 90' tree that shouldn't have been there in the first place.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[TreeLogic]

BTW, I didn't mean to be argumentative but I think you may be right about the Freeman maple. I didn't think the quality of the photo lent itself to that distinction but upon further investigation there seems to be just enough separation between the leaf lobes for it to be somewhere in between a silver and red maple. Good call

 

[John_KAYS]

It looks like you've had a lot of good feedback! The branches dying is most likely a response from it being "uprooted" and transplanted only two weeks ago, but the wound to the main stem is significant and compromises the tree's vascular system and defense capability. I would also advise replacing now rather than later. Invest in a healthy tree with good promise and spare yourself that added risk. It's easy to switch now - that wound could haunt you for the rest of your life. Yes, you probably could baby it along and get a decent life out of it, but especially with the other site restrictions that extra stress brought on by that wound is far from okay.

If its a maple that you want I would recommend a Crimson King Maple
View attachment 28007 Less susceptible to disease and insects in comparison to other maples.
Limbs are stronger than other maples, because the growth rate is slow. So you wont have to worry about it getting to big any time soon. Also will give your property a little added color.
Have done tree inventories on all maples that grow in a community in nj. and out of all maples in village in this order: Norway , silver, red, sugar, and ashleaf maples have the most problems Crimson maples have the least damage, disease, or insect problems

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Crimson King Maples roots grow particularly close to the ground surface and would therefore be less of a viable option for this location. As Guy suggested, I would also agree with looking into other options besides Maple. I would suggest perhaps a smaller flowering tree but I am not familiar enough with your area to provide specifics.

Widen your scope (if you do replace); plenty of good genera besides Acer.

Best of Luck!

 

[guymayor]

Maple roots grow deep in soft soil, shallow in hard soil. But Geez Louise please plant another genus! The arboretum at Vandy might give you ideas. Winged elm might fit. Are there wires around?

If I've seen 1 Freeman maple, I've seen 8 million, from Tampa to Toronto, where they were the villain in the attached.

Uprooted trees in the undisturbed forest have wide spreading root systems, true. Trees that don't uproot, have deeper roots.

100s of big trees growing out of walls, with pavement all around, are not all dangerous, and only a few cause problems and are expensive to maintain. Benefits from these trees are high; many people affected.

re trunk wounds, they use mud in China.

 

[NunSoup]

Thanks John and Guy.

I'll definitely look into other options other than maple. But I'm pretty sure that the HOA requires it to be a red maple. But I'll double check that.

 

[treehumper]

NunSoup, have you closed on the house already?

 

[NunSoup]

NunSoup, have you closed on the house already?

No we haven't closed yet. That'll happen on Sept. 8th.

 

[treehumper]

Then put him on notice that it's a deficiency to be corrected. This is when you've got the leverage. There's no reason to pay for this twice. Just be sure they do it properly.

 

[frashdog]

We could have cut it down and planted another one already now thank you!
Just saying...that's super poor quality there.
And that's why I love this site.

 

[treehumper]

For me, I'm loathe to let a business off the hook for doing subpar work. The customer paid for the tree already and deserves the value for his money, not to go and spend more.

 

[NunSoup]

For me, I'm loathe to let a business off the hook for doing subpar work. The customer paid for the tree already and deserves the value for his money, not to go and spend more.

Thanks guys. We have the walk-through (make sure everything is done and done correctly) this afternoon. There are already a few things that need to be addressed. But I'll definitely bring up your points. Will let you know how it goes.