With EAB in the mid-Atlantic, when can you climb?

[fastbub]

Ash trees in my area are starting to get hit. I have seen several where the trunk just snapped 20 feet up, good size trunks. Kind of gives me the heebee jeebies. I just looked at a job with 6 Ash removals. Pretty big. Look like they are on the decline. They would need climbing and rigging because of obstacles. Most could be reached with a crane. Just get a crane out there? Better safe than sorry?

 

[oldoakman]

Crane would be my choice. Remember it is your life and limb if one decides to collapse with you in it.

 

[Oroboros]

Good sized trunks snapping sounds like it has been there for quite a while. Unless I'm mistaken. Will an ash tree just snap off from being dead for one or two years or would that indicate 5 plus years dead ?

 

[fastbub]

Good sized trunks snapping sounds like it has been there for quite a while. Unless I'm mistaken. Will an ash tree just snap off from being dead for one or two years or would that indicate 5 plus years dead ?

I think it is because the Ash borer is boring into and eating up the wood, it kills them pretty quick but also really compromises the strength of the tree while it may be hard to tell from the outside.

 

[mrtree]

EAB does not eat wood, it eats cambium, therefore it does not cause strength loss.

Decay causes strength loss.

Assess the tree as you normally would. Any tree with decay can break or collapse so do your normal checks.

EAB is not some new secret killer of trees and destroyer of structure.

 

[RopeShield]

I agree with MrTree. Fastbub sounds like what davey tree was force feeding the industry to secure work for equipment based cos and steal from arbclimb companies.

 

[Oroboros]

I agree with MrTree. Fastbub sounds like what davey tree was force feeding the industry to secure work for equipment based cos and steal from arbclimb companies.

Absolutely. If it is punky don't get on it. This topic was covered extensively last year but I can't find the thread. Put a rope in it and shake the shit out of it. See what snaps off. Listen for cracking/popping. Put some spurs in it and feel it. If it wigs you out then pass on it. Go climb another tree. There are lots of them.

 

[JD3000]

How about getting into EAB control in your area? Save the bigger nice ones.
$$$.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

At TCIA I heard some numbers from a well known industry leader that confused me a bit. It was said anything with 20% die back was no longer a climbing operation and to get equipment there. 20% seems a little generous/conservative to me (depending how you are looking at it). We have that much dieback now on many ash trees and EAB ain't here yet (not confirmed). Maybe I misunderstood the reference.

The way I'm looking at it (being on the verge of infestation) is if I gotta rig out of it I'm getting equipment, if I can drop stuff wholesale I'll think about climbing it (mind you I'm talking about almost dead or had leaves during the last growing season). Anything beyond gets equipment!

i hear stories of ghostly trees that are being climbed, rigged and removed with no problem. If I gotta worry about it... my crane guys gonna see it. Even with equipment these trees can be $h!ty

 

[Drumbo]

What flying squirrel said.

I did two stone dead 30 inch DBH ash removals yesterday for another tree service.
They tend to just get crispy as long as there isn't any new decay in the tree. Basically anything smaller than 4 inches seems to just explode when rigging or just whacking it.
I had the gopro on I'll see if I can find some good examples of said explosion.

But it is a case by case basis the trees didn't need a crane, would I have been more comfortable with one sure but I wasn't uncomfortable without one.

Cranes are always awesome though.

 

[moss]

EAB does not eat wood, it eats cambium, therefore it does not cause strength loss.

Decay causes strength loss.

Assess the tree as you normally would. Any tree with decay can break or collapse so do your normal checks.

EAB is not some new secret killer of trees and destroyer of structure.

The fourth instar EAB larvae can go 1/2" into the sapwood, not a huge wood destroyer but that can make a difference in upper limbs when you consider the way EAB can overwhelm an entire tree top to bottom. It is different than what ash trees usually face, ash yellows for example, long slow death or just chronic affliction. With EAB the entire tree is slammed in a relatively short period of time. I believe this will create a faster decay rate than what we're used to seeing.

Would be cool to see some cross-section photos of different diameter ash pieces within 1, 2, 3 years etc. of an EAB attack.
-AJ

 

[tc262]

I've done quite a few eab ash trees and they get very brittle very quick. I don't climb 'em unless its the only option.