Taking down the big old ash tree in the back yard

[rurallib]

it was planted by the previous owner about two years before we moved in. we have been here 30+ years. It was put in a bad spot to begin with. I debated for a couple years over whether to take it down or not. Like most here I love trees, so removing it was the last thing I wanted to do.

Well the last couple years, it has become basically a hazard with branches on the roof, branches in the power lines and the fear that one of these god-awful winds we get anymore will land it on our house or the neighbors house. It had also had some big branches come down and just missed causing trouble.

It had grown huge. We will use the wood for fires it a couple of years. Once there was a day when I could have helped take it down, but my back greatly limits what I can do.

So my neighbor is taking it down. He has a crew that needed some work. While he was taking it down he got 2 other trees to remove, so this may be a new line of work for him. That is a win win. He's a really good guy.

Lot of memories in that tree - kids climbing, a tree house, the old tire swing, the sand box in the great shade in the summer.

Really sorry to see it go. We will build a garage there next year. Then we will find a couple smaller trees to replace the ash

[HarveyDarkey]

1. Have you got some photos of it through the years?

Great memories there.

[rurallib]

7. Sorry so late to respond

Some friends came over last night and we had some fun.

We have pictures of the kids in various activities over the years in and around the tree.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Lib was awfully sick, so not near as many as we would like.

[Bertha Venation]

2. I'm sorry, rurallib

I hate to lose trees. I still have a piece of one that my dad removed from his yard forty years ago.

[In_The_Wind]

3. That's a lot of leaves over 30+ years.

[img][/img] What type of trees are you thinking about planting?

[rurallib]

8. Not sure yet - when the time comes we will research it

Part of me wants to go with some fruit trees. Probably a couple years out yet.
We may have to take down our apple tree also. It has lost several branches over the years. I will try a severe pruning next year, but ....

[pscot]

11. Pear trees look nice

and pears have fewer pests than apples.

[rurallib]

12. I am a real cherry freak

in particular rainier cherries. My wish is to be able to grow them, can them and literally have rainiers all year round.
Pears are really good also.
With the changing climate rainiers may grow in southern Iowa.

[pscot]

13. I once lived in a place with a standard Bing

It was a big tree, and hugely prolific. Pears aren't as tall, but make lots of fruit. I plante a Bosc tree at my last house. It grew like a weed and was a great producer.

[one_voice]

4. I have a big oak tree in my front yard...

it was here when we moved in. My friends called it the Charlie Brown tree. That was 18 years ago and it had been there for 10-12 years already. It's grown huge, but I think it might have a disease. Plus, we moved for 2 years and rented the house and the dumbass that lived here pruned the branches and put this crap on the ends so they wouldn't grow again.

I love this tree, it's part of the house. We've watched it grow. But I'm afraid I will have to have it taken down. I know I will cry if I do, I know that's silly, but my kids would play under the tree when they were little. My dogs sit under that tree when we bring out front with us. Like I said, it's part of this house.

My parents took a small voluntary tree and planted it in their backyard and now my tree has a 'baby' growing in my parents yard. Maybe I will do the same and replant.

[OriginalGeek]

10. Not silly at all.

I got something in my eye just thinking of yours and rurallib's trees.


At least, if it is silly, we're silly together. I just hate to lose a tree. We had to take our huge oak down after hurricane Charley as it was also too close to ours and the neighbor's house and it was also sick and would have fallen soon. It sheltered us through one last storm and then returned to the universe to help in new ways.

[Major Nikon]

5. I knew I wanted an ash tree

I planted it about 13 years ago in the most prominent place in my back yard. At 25' tall and wide, it's still just a baby, but I think in another 10 years or so it's going to overtake my elms.

[rurallib]

9. great shade tree but really messy

Our tree was just too big for town with the small lots and wires and streets and sidewalks.
An ash needs some room.

[surrealAmerican]

6. We've lost a lot of ash trees around town the last few years ...

... once those emerald ash borers got here. It's sad to see them go.

[TrogL]

14. I wish my neighbour would let me take down his dead aspen

It's actually two houses down from me. Next good wind storm I'm betting it comes down on its own and takes out my next door neighbour's roof. I've talked to the guy a couple of times and he keeps saying "oh, my boys will take it down". I've never actually seen any "boys" onsite. The guy lives alone, is more curmudgeonly than me (which takes a bit of doing) and just plain doesn't "get it" on a number off issues. My next door neighbour is also having problems with him about his fence and overhanging live trees in the back.