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Stone Pine

Q.Leaning Mature Tree

Anonymous added on April 11, 2014 | Answered

I’m wondering whether I should have a particular tree cut down. It is a pine tree. To me it looks like an Italian Stone Pine. It is a very mature, big tree, and is not diseased but some large limbs were torn by wind. I estimate the height as about 40 ft. The girth at the base is 10 ft. The trunk forks at a height of about 8 ft. The girth of the heavier of the two branches of the forked trunk is about 6 ft and it has grown at an angle of about 45-degrees from vertical with many branches growing more or less horizontally out of it, particularly near the top. The lesser branch of the forked trunk has grown in the opposite direction, at an angle of about 30-degreees from vertical, somewhat balancing the major branch and also has some (fewer) branches coming off it, also more or less horizontally.

The lesser branch of the forked trunk suffered almost total tearing off of two large limbs due to high winds over the last several years. Tree cutters completed removed two of those limbs. I wonder what effect the two tears will have on the health of the lesser branch of the forked trunk, and I wonder whether I should cut that branch down in anticipation of disease entering via the tears. Also, I wonder whether the major branch of the forked trunk will fall in time due to its weight and its off-axis center of gravity, especially in case I cut down the lesser branch of the forked trunk. The major branch of the forked trunk extends from my property into the street.

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theficuswrangler
Answered on April 11, 2014

I recommend you consult with a registered arborist. They would be able to determine if the tree could be strengthened be removal of one of the codominant stems, and/or selective pruning of the side branches, or if the tree needs to be removed.

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