Structural tree assessment Can we save it?

[baumeister]

This large white oak is slatted for removal. She is just too uncomfortable with it. I know many are going to default to reduce the tree. But before that, is it really necessary? Is it structurally compromised? If homeowner is still going to be "uncomfortable" after reduction would you still suggest to retain the tree? She really wants to keep it but knows it is going to make her uncomfortable.

The excavation was from a previous house demolished.



There is about 7 feet from trunk to excavation. This is a sand dune. Other side of root zone is unaffected.



Size of roots exposed and damaged were about2 inches and less.

The trunk and root flare are in great shape. !
Ed gilman, what would you say. ? .

 

[Gorman]

7 feet isn't a lot. How much of the grade was taken away?

 

[CanadianStan]

View attachment 36398
This large white oak is slatted for removal. She is just too uncomfortable with it. I know many are going to default to reduce the tree. But before that, is it really necessary? Is it structurally compromised? If homeowner is still going to be "uncomfortable" after reduction would you still suggest to retain the tree? She really wants to keep it but knows it is going to make her uncomfortable.

The excavation was from a previous house demolished.

There is about 7 feet from trunk to excavation. This is a sand dune. Other side of root zone is unaffected.

Size of roots exposed and damaged were about2 inches and less.

The trunk and root flare are in great shape. !
Ed gilman, what would you say. ? .

Holy mother of photos. Dear lord.

 

[CanadianStan]

If it falls over towards the house, is it even going to hit it? It's hard to judge the distance in those photos

 

[oldoakman]

Lots of questions yet to be asked and answered.

 

[RopeShield]

I think it will just need supports to neighbouring trees.
Big stump near by, that's recent?

 

[baumeister]

Answers to questions. Please ask away !!

Yes it would hit the house. 200 year old white oak. Over 40 inches dbh. A riot zone failure would be catastrophic to house. Complete rebuild.

No big stump near by. That is just a piece of wood. The house was demolished and the foundation came up to about 9 feet from the trunk. In order to get the new house in we removed three trees just beyond the car, one on this side of the hole and two more going around the Left edge of the picture. The wind comes off the lake of course in some pretty mean storms. If I were building a house and putting my three kids to bed in it every night, I am not so sure I would feel completely comfortable. Even though my gut tells me the tree is gonna stand for another several decades before it even starts to decline.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

How many roots were effected by this excavation? From the pictures it does not look like many at all. The number and size of the roots effected will determine future health and stability... And how you should move forward with the tree.

 

[mrtree]

I had a very similar situation though the distance from trunk to excavation was perhaps 5 feet. No roots were cut as only the old foundation was removed and no cutback was made. When the wind statred to blow the tree did start to rock and the soil began to move under/around the roots as it was no longer retained. Bye-bye tree!!!

In your situation you might want to watch the tree in high winds or install sensors to measure movement (http://www.argus-electronic.de/index.php/tms). Root plate stability is virtually impossible to assess visually (see Brudi and van Wassenaer's article Trees and Statics: Non-destructive Failure Analysis in How Trees Stand Up and Fall Down) so saying the tree is stable or not without monitoring and testing is not realistic.