Pretty sure that I know the answer, but since there's a wide variety of folks with different experiences I thought I'd ask here.
A dozen years ago a little tree started growing near the corner of our deck, 11 feet from corner of the house. “The birds sure seem to love it!”
Fast forward to present and we have a 30ft tree at the corner of the deck, some of the larger branches headed towards the house trimmed off over the years but it's not slowing down. Birds really love it, the shade is nice (albeit a north facing deck), there’s a hammock tied between it and a smaller volunteer tree further away, and the telescope can no longer be used on the deck for most of the sky.
Now that the deck is under construction I'm contemplating cutting it down. I worry about roots reaching foundation, deck or roof damage if some of it broke off during a storm, and the trunk eventually widening to point of growing into deck framing.
p.s. this is New England, trees grow everywhere
@jerzone@techhub.social I don't think I'll be able to offer any advice, but I'm curious what kind of tree it is?
We have similar questions about a few trees that were planted not too far from the house. I'm sure they looked nice when this was a new build ten years ago, but they're crowding the house now. I think we're going to have an arborist out next spring to figure which to keep and which to remove.
@ehmatthes@fosstodon.org I tried ID’ing and it says Ash or Box Elder. Since this one started growing we've had a half dozen pop up in various parts of the yard (stone walls, gardens, etc..). It's a fast grower!
@jerzone@techhub.social @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org The easy way to tell the diff between the two is the Seed Wings. Box Elder wings are offset, similar to maples (which is what it really is, a maple). Ash Wings are centered on the bulged end of the wing...
@jerzone@techhub.social @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org
If it’s an ash, then it’s probably doomed because of the emerald ash borer. If it’s a Box Elder (which would be my guess), it will grow pretty big, then start falling down — they live fast and die young.
I’d definitely vote for cutting it down for all the reasons you mentioned.
@donray@mastodon.online @jerzone@techhub.social @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org Maybe explains his Box Elder Bugs about too...
I've a Sugar Maple growing about 8 feet from the house that makes a good bird perch. It's maybe ~35 years old and 7- 8 feet tall. One can't have a tree like that so close by. Every spring, usually on or around Mothers Day I severely prune it. If it dies oh well but it hasn't. If you have a Box Elder (likely) you could probably cut it off 4-5 feet up and it would recover...
The dead leaves and the 4-5 smallish trunks in the photo make up this maple.
@donray@mastodon.online @jerzone@techhub.social @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org Maybe explains his Box Elder Bugs about too...
I've a Sugar Maple growing about 8 feet from the house that makes a good bird perch. It's maybe ~35 years old and 7- 8 feet tall. One can't have a tree like that so close by. Every spring, usually on or around Mothers Day I severely prune it. If it dies oh well but it hasn't. If you have a Box Elder (likely) you could probably cut it off 4-5 feet up and it would recover...
The dead leaves and the 4-5 smallish trunks in the photo make up this maple.
@lfisk@infosec.exchange @donray@mastodon.online @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org
Here’s a shot of leaves and seeds and bottom of tree
@lfisk@infosec.exchange @donray@mastodon.online @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org
Here’s a shot of leaves and seeds and bottom of tree
@lfisk@infosec.exchange
The birds have been doing a number on this branch.
@donray@mastodon.online @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org
@jerzone@techhub.social @donray@mastodon.online @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org Yes, those seeds look like Box Elder (AKA Ash Leaf Maple) to me. see Green Ash seeds in this entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraxinus_pennsylvanica
@jerzone@techhub.social @donray@mastodon.online @ehmatthes@fosstodon.org Interesting discovery. That maple tree I've been torturing has similar looking areas on it. But it's old and I used to have a triple tube feeder with oilers right beside it (that bare tray with post).
My experience with Box Elders is they heal wounds right quick and some pretty bad ones too.
Jer 🚲
Eric Matthes
