A nerve wracking race

[tenaya]

There's this tree at the foot of the driveway, a Chinese elm and it's a volunteer. It's maybe 20-25 foot high and quite beautiful with lacy branches. It overhangs onto the neighbor's yard and last year, their gardeners sheared off the overhang with has left the tree not balanced. Spring has sprung and the tree is gaining lots of leaves and the branches are drooping with the weight. The rain has left the ground a bit soggy (yes, you know where this is going, don't you?) Well, last week I wondered if the tree had always leaned a bit towards the drive. As the days went by, I went through idle curiousity, concern, denial, to certainity and a slow panic. The phone and electrical lines run through the tree branches and the phone line is now quite taut. We had an estimate from one tree trimmer guy yesterday for $400 (plus another $100 to grind out some old stumps.) Another guy is coming in the morning. The tree inches more towards the falling over and at some point gravity will win. I should also mention that that water pipe to the house runs to the west of the tree and depending on what the roots are like, they could severely damage these 50 year old pipes. The only thing it won't take out is the gas line.

Did I mention I was feeling a tad panicky?

So, if I should disappear suddenly, take it has said that we're preoccupied with all sorts of trouble.

Comments

[kittyfisher.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, good luck!!!!

I mean, a TREE, causing all that? Well, actually the tree timmer guy did the damage I guess. EEK!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

I know! It seems so innocent and when I think of what will happen unless the weight is relieved soon, it just gets more expensive. Maybe one of the neighbors will let us run an extension cord to the refridgerator and we won't lose the contents of the freezer.

As for the cause of this, we should have forseen the possibility and got the tree balanced. The renter that lives next to the tree was quite upset that her landlord had the tree trimmed as it gave her lots of lovely shade. It's a nailbiter.

[obelix]

*hugs*

This is so not your month :-(

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Nope. It'll be good to get away to MWC. Veeeery good. The trip's already paid for so I might as well go and enjoy. Drown my sorrows in zines.... *g*

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Is it on your property? I'd say bite the bullet and get the thing cut down. We had a giant half-grown California Elm in our backyard that had a gigantic root that went under our foundation - the previous owners didn't anything about it (par for the course, after moving in, we found out what a cheapskate the old guy was when it came to house repairs). We ended up spending about $1000 to get it removed. We can actually grow grass now, and we don't have a quagmire of mud in our backyard.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

It's on our property but shade is desirable here. I have to say if the tree has to go, I'm okay with it, but if possible--and if it can be done safely--I'd like to keep it. I may regret this choice though. *g*

[khek.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Can you...prop it up or tie it off to another tree or something temporarily? Just to make sure nothing happens before you make your decision?

Good luck!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Apparently, the Arborist thinks it'll be okay for a few days if there isn't any wind or if he doesn't get too hot. Fingers crossed.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Well, that sucks! All the expense of course, but also that you will eventually lose the tree. {HUGS} Fingers crossed that all goes as smoothly as possible.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Get rid of it!

A year or so ago, there was a very tall tree on the property right next to where I work. One Santa Ana windstorm brought the whole thing down. It struck a glancing blow on the office building roof, and reached over and brushed against the building I work in - no damage.

That following week, I had the opportunity to find out what makes more noise: a chainsaw or wood chipper. (The latter). This was all taking place right outside my window. They had to get a crane and hold the tree up and then cut it out in segments. They eventually removed 16,000 pounds of wood chips.

They managed to get the roof fixed next door just in the nick of time. The work crew finished their work one morning; the spring rains started that afternoon.

Good luck and hugs!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Wow! What a mess. I very much hope this won't turn out that way.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the tree. I hope it turns out to be something easy to deal with!

[deej1957.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Good thing I'm taking the train on the 10th, won't be parking my car under it ::grin:: Sorry to hear it's on it's way down, though :-(

The houses in our division were built in 1962, and each house had a small tree planted in the parking strip. The trees GREW and the roots.... oye! They finally took out all the trees, but the roots stayed. Everyone has plumbing problems now, and we finally had the front yard dug up and the pipes completely replaced.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Been there, done that. $7000 for that. Trees are lovely but they can cause a lot of mischief. When you get here, most of the drama should be over.

I hope.