Work Done 2025

[ctreitzell]

If you don't need the wood, and they're not threatening anything, put that money aside.
Save it towards a new stove and accessories.

I think we should save these oaks before they all just tumble down…the trees are threatened by multiple factors

The tops are ready on most of them…I have an excellent arborists service

There is a big oak next to my ruin that has to be topped to carry out the barn works we are hoping to start next year

I also have about 10 small oaks out back that need to come down so we can do the ground works

And, yes, firewood is cheaper than electricity as I have said over and over here on this forum…as long as we are allowed to burn, we’ll be using firewood for heat

 

[ctreitzell]

Plus my neighbour has these poplars to deal with; he doesn’t burn and I can do with the starter

 

[stoveliker]

Topping trees is a surefire way to have more firewood in 5-10 years. Don't do it.
If a tree is too big for safety, cut it down.
Topping it creates more wounds than it can handle, letting fungus and animals (woodpecker) in, eventually killing the tree.

 

[ctreitzell]

Topping trees is a surefire way to have more firewood in 5-10 years. Don't do it.
If a tree is too big for safety, cut it down.
Topping it creates more wounds than it can handle, letting fungus and animals (woodpecker) in, eventually killing the tree.

these oaks in France the are maintained in a way most of us are not accustomed to

it is common practice with certain types of oaks to top them

the oaks I'm speaking of are of that type

again, I have an excellent arborist

the oak that just fell into my orchard was one of those oaks...had we topped it, we might have saved it

I will share some pics in future to prove my point

 

[all night moe]

had we topped it, we might have saved it

No, you would have created a slow removal.

I have an excellent arborist

If he tops trees, he is not. You can tell him/her I said so.

Topping is frowned upon in the arborist world, world wide. I talk with many of them. I am not a certified arborist but, I practice good driving habits and learned the trade in the field by some who are certified, and others who have been in the trade for decades. The only way I would take out a top is if the tree was dangerously threatening the home owner and, they couldn't afford a complete removal.

Topping dense hardwoods is an immediate death sentence. Even with some lower limbs/leaders left to "live." Softwoods are worse. They try hard to survive and since they are fast growers, they will sprout out new life around the perimeter of the cut/s. This new union of wood is weak and as the the new growth grows, it's weight is sure to tear it off it's origin.

 

[stoveliker]

Hm. Both here, in TN, and in the Netherlands, my remarks are valid. But I have not spoken to French arborists.

 

[all night moe]

And, yes, firewood is cheaper than electricity as I have said over and over here on this forum…as long as we are allowed to burn, we’ll be using firewood for heat

What I meant was, if you don't need the wood immediately and are unable to take it down yourself, let it fall an it's own. Save yourself the money of hiring.

 

[all night moe]

But I have not spoken to French arborists.

I have.

Also Germany, Japan, Barbados, UK, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Hungry, .....that may be it, or I'm forgetting someone.

 

[all night moe]

Today was a crane out of 2 maples and a big red oak. The maples were dead and small. Choked the maples at the top and repel to the ground. One pick for each. The oak was dyeing out and had deadwood in its top, and the 2 leaders at the union. We could have spent the time limbing out the dead but, the HO didn't want a dying tree near their horse pen. Brought home half a pickup load of 3-4'' diam stuff. Most of it barkless and bowling pin ringing. Some of it, already in the furnace.

 

[thewoodlands]

We put in two small loads of maple, beech, ash and some cherry this morning. After we put in the wood it was another day of moving snow, some was just pushing back banks and the rest was trails with a few other areas I never did get to that had some deep snow in those areas.

 

[ctreitzell]

No, you would have created a slow removal.

If he tops trees, he is not. You can tell him/her I said so.

Topping is frowned upon in the arborist world, world wide. I talk with many of them. I am not a certified arborist but, I practice good driving habits and learned the trade in the field by some who are certified, and others who have been in the trade for decades. The only way I would take out a top is if the tree was dangerously threatening the home owner and, they couldn't afford a complete removal.

Topping dense hardwoods is an immediate death sentence. Even with some lower limbs/leaders left to "live." Softwoods are worse. They try hard to survive and since they are fast growers, they will sprout out new life around the perimeter of the cut/s. This new union of wood is weak and as the the new growth grows, it's weight is sure to tear it off it's origin.

I will share some photos, I used to question it too

Generally, yes, agreed with most of what you are saying

Over the past 15 years I have seen many, many oaks of this type topped. I realize that isn’t very long in tree cycles, but that is the duration of my first hand experience witnessing this. I remember saying to my wife as we drove along, OMG, those knuckleheads just killed another row of beautiful oaks! I’ve been proven wrong.

Instant death sentence ? not these…it’s a slow, slow death…enough to harvest the re growth multiple times

I have oak trees on my boundaries that were topped around 20 years ago (the farmer told me that and you can see it)…and they appear in great shape…the bugs, moles and excess wet, tho, are much more of a threat

My arborists (who has a university degree) also mostly agrees with you, but, I assure you, in practice, the majority of these oaks survive and even flourish. When I first met him I wanted to top some hollies, and he said no chance, they’ll just die…and he is dead set against topping…except these particular type of oaks and various other required tree trimming

I’ve spent plenty of my life stuck in my ways, yet sometimes we discover things that go against what we’ve come to view as “law”…topping these oaks ticks that box

 

[Investment Camper]

We put in two small loads of maple, beech, ash and some cherry this morning. After we put in the wood it was another day of moving snow, some was just pushing back banks and the rest was trails with a few other areas I never did get to that had some deep snow in those areas.

Got some oak after a long run this past Saturday. Frigid. Going back this Sunday. I’m helping the landowner and he’s helping me.

 

[thewoodlands]

Got some oak after a long run this past Saturday. Frigid. Going back this Sunday. I’m helping the landowner and he’s helping me.

That will throw some nice heat once it's season, nice score.

 

[all night moe]

Instant death sentence ? not these…it’s a slow, slow death

I did not say instant death. I said a immediate death sentence has been established.

No, you would have created a slow removal

Yes, I said the above. A slow death is in store.

 

[Wood1Dennis]

This old guy is sore tonight. But what a fun day it was! It was 30 F, a perfect day for working in the woods. All my trails (and non-trails) are frozen up solid from a couple weeks plus of cold weather, lows were in the teens or single digits all this week. I can get anywhere in the woods right now. I used to be able to take that for granted in January, but that is not always a given any more. Today was a perfect day to beat the snow get some firewood logs dragged out to the woodpiles. Two sticks of oak (both from one big old tree that fell a couple of years back), two yellow birch, a nice white ash and some black ash. This stuff will be CSS in spring and burned in three or four years.

I like burning wood and the cheap heat that comes with it. But really the time out in the woods in the winter making firewood is the best!

 

[MRD1985]

This old guy is sore tonight. But what a fun day it was! It was 30 F, a perfect day for working in the woods. All my trails (and non-trails) are frozen up solid from a couples weeks plus of cold weather, lows were in the teens or single digits all this week. I can get anywhere in the woods right now. I used to be able to take that for granted in January, but that is not always a given any more. Today was a perfect day to beat the snow get some firewood logs dragged out to the woodpiles. Two sticks of oak (both from one big old tree that fell a couple of years back), two yellow birch, a nice white ask and some black ash. This stuff will be CSS in spring and burned in three or four years.

I like burning wood and the cheap heat that comes with it. But really the time out in the woods in the winter making firewood is the best!

View attachment 334976View attachment 334977View attachment 334978View attachment 334979

Very nice stuff there!! Easy splitting, straight as an arrow

 

[Wood1Dennis]

Very nice stuff there!! Easy splitting, straight as an arrow

I usually use the splitter to work up the logs in the spring, and for sure I will on the oak, but the ash is probably going to be quicker with the Fiskars!

 

[MRD1985]

I usually use the splitter to work up the logs in the spring, and for sure I will on the oak, but the ash is probably going to be quicker with the Fiskars!

For sure! I split it all with the axe. Goes quick!

 

[Pinesmoke]

This old guy is sore tonight. But what a fun day it was! It was 30 F, a perfect day for working in the woods. All my trails (and non-trails) are frozen up solid from a couple weeks plus of cold weather, lows were in the teens or single digits all this week. I can get anywhere in the woods right now. I used to be able to take that for granted in January, but that is not always a given any more. Today was a perfect day to beat the snow get some firewood logs dragged out to the woodpiles. Two sticks of oak (both from one big old tree that fell a couple of years back), two yellow birch, a nice white ash and some black ash. This stuff will be CSS in spring and burned in three or four years.

I like burning wood and the cheap heat that comes with it. But really the time out in the woods in the winter making firewood is the best!

View attachment 334976View attachment 334977View attachment 334978View attachment 334979

Love the saw scabard!

 

[Pinesmoke]

Warned up from 12 to 34 so I went out and split about 3/4 cord of beech I had stacked by the splitter. The air temp came up but man the rounds were cold on the hands. Setting up for more pine coming out of the woods tomorrow.

 

[stoveliker]

Brought in a truck load of the dead pine we cut last weeks.
Debarked it (use that where my wood shed roof drips) and split a few rounds. Nice.
Other chores now unfortunately.

 

[stoveliker]

Split that truckload and stacked it - temporarily uncovered but off the ground.
Felt nice!

 

[all night moe]

Been moving a little wood down in the Dragon's lair. Mostly, been loafing around the house today.
Big crane job tomorrow.

Tell ya all about it after I get home.

 

[Gearhead660]

Got cold weather coming tomorrow. Filled up the wood wagon. Decided to fill it with wood that has been sitting in rounds, covered for the last 3 years. Was dead standing without bark when I cut it up. Figured splitting right into wagon would remove a couple steps from the process.

 

[Dieselhead]

Been moving a little wood down in the Dragon's lair. Mostly, been loafing around the house today.
Big crane job tomorrow.

Tell ya all about it after I get home.

Let’s see some pics! Even better!