Going, going, gone!

Category: Working in the yard | Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:31 pm

There was an old Austrian Pine in the corner of our backyard that had lived around 40 years. It began to look stressed a couple years ago, and we have pruned dead branches from it. But this winter, with all the deciduous trees bare, it was evident that the poor old tree was not going to survive much longer. It had a lot of dead even up at the top. So, with a heavy heart, I scheduled the work.
The tree crew from the company I work for showed up and made short work of taking it down. It took 3 hours from start to finish including the clean up, and trimming another Pine back there.
I tried not to hover, but I wanted to be sure they were not trampling all over my dormant plants...
The timing of this work was about perfect. It was a fairly decent sunny winter day. I wanted to get it down before any plants emerged from dormancy (which is no time soon here) I also wanted to get it down before any birds or squirrels built their nest in it.
Larry made the job look easy, but climbing up trees to take them down is not for amateurs. The guys do it safely and the correct way.

( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

The two ground guys hauled the limbs and debris out pretty quickly. I felt compelled to help them, but I didn't! When Larry had the tree limbs all cut off, he came down. It was bittersweet to see what was left. I remembered watching all the activity of the birds and squirrels in it over the years.
Then Jay took over and made the two wedge cuts to topple the trunk. It really made a big thud when it hit the ground! Then they made about 5 cuts to piece it out and hauled it out. I decided I didn't want the stump ground out because I have so many plants around it, and I knew they might not fair well! He cut the stump close to the ground, and we'll deal with it. I'll probably put rocks on it, or some kind of garden art thing!

( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )
Now we're left with a gaping space! It looks so different, and I can't wait to remedy that! One thing our backyard doesn't have a lot of is privacy. We've only lived here 4 years, and have lots of ideas and wishes for the yard. Someday, if we ever finish the basement... (oh, the joys of home owning!)
So, for this coming growing season, I have some very tall Zebra grass that I'll probably plant in the corner. It will fill the void. Then I can dream and plot my next move... A new tree? A shrub? Hmmm, I'll let you know!

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Sjoerd wrote on Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:46 pm:

Well Kay, when any tree goes down anywhere...I find it a sad thing. --chuckle: I really am a softie when it comes to trees. Do you know Joyce Kilmer's poem, "Trees".

Well, it seems like that old tree's time had come and now the place that it once filled can be filled with new and interesting things.

Please do keep us posted with your decisions and progress.