Goodbye to the "goal post" Pine Tree

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:48 pm

the old "goal post" pine tree ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

Since we moved in in 2006, this tree has been a source of curiosity and concern for us. It had an odd shape, and was known as the "goal post" tree on our neighborhood street.
I never really liked it, but it was pretty healthy, and we couldn't see it looking out of the house, as it was next to the garage, away from sight of our windows.
Bob's biggest concern was that it was very close to the garage roof. He's been keeping an eye on it, and of course, being a carpenter, he measured how close. Well, it was less than an inch.
This winter (which seems to never want to end!)
we have had a lot of really high winds. A few days they were over 60mph. This was a worry as we would rather not have a huge tree falling on our garage.
So, the decision was made. It had to go. We sort of feel bad, after all it is not dead... but when you look at how close it is...
So, I called up my boss. We waited patiently for the tree crew to get time to come . Weeks went by, I said my prayers to the tree gods, and apologized to the squirrels for taking away this habitat.(they can go to the neighbors!!)
Finally they had time to come!

here comes the crew ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

The ground is still quite frozen, so they just drove that big truck right up on the lawn. Four of my co workers got busy. Dustin went up in the boom and got started cutting. Branch by branch he cut it down. The guys on the ground drug the branches to the chipper. They sure do good work (if I do say so myself!)
they worked for about 3 hours, and all that remained was this silly looking stump.

tree almost gone ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

They took a break, and then Dustin did the wedge cuts and kaboom! down it came.

no more tree ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

this will be my spring project! ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

It was so cold, I wasn't too motivated to get out there to do the final clean up. Spring is still a ways away here.
I will have to re-position the limestone edging, and clean up sawdust. That's for another day.
It's a bit bittersweet. It looks so bare now.
But as you know, I will get used to it, and it will lead, I'm sure, to new gardening ideas and adventures.
Bob is happy that he won't have to be constantly cleaning needles and pine cones out of the gutters. I just might miss those pine cones though!

Dustin up in the bucket, cutting ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

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Comments

waretrop wrote on Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:51 pm:

That is so cool. So sorry for you loosing the tree but sometimes they do have to go. We took 2 out that were up close to our house and them 2 more blew down in one of those storms. We now have firewood for a long time but I sure do miss them.

Nice job you all did.

cherylad wrote on Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:52 pm:

It's amazing to watch those guys take down a huge tree.
Congrats on your new space... and one less thing to worry about.

Kay wrote on Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:31 pm:

I forgot to mention how nice it still smells out there today after all that cutting of Pine. Too bad it doesn't make very good firewood. Too sappy...

Sjoerd wrote on Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:22 pm:

What a big project.

Well, you know since you can't burn the wood...if you chipped it, you could use it on your blueberry patch or under your rhodies or hydrangea's.

That IS a nice smell, isn't it.

Cayuga Morning wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:27 am:

Kay, the goal post tree was such a unique yet odd looking tree. I can so imagine feeling ambivalent about it. The clincher was clear though: too too close to the garage.

Congrats on the take down of the tree & I hope you have a fun time putting that area of the yard to god use.

eileen wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:35 am:

I can feel a plant buying session coming up!!
Sjeord is right using the wood as chippings for under plants is a good idea and it does has such a lovely smell.

Kay wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 1:00 am:

Sjoerd, Thanks for that tip. I do have several Hydrangeas, and two Rhodies. They will appreciate the pine mulch.

Frank wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:12 am:

Sorry to see a healthy tree go Kay but yes you had to think of the garage. One inch is too close for comfort!

Netty wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 1:22 pm:

I cant wait to see what you do with that new space Kay!

Jewell wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 1:33 pm:

The worry during storms is gone, and you will find creative ways to use your reclaimed space. Will you be planting another tree or beds?

Kay wrote on Thu Mar 06, 2014 7:34 pm:

Jewell- as much as I'd love to have another tree to replace it, I probably won't. We don't see this part of the yard from the house(unless you're in the yard) So, I don't want to invest the money for a tree. Also, I did not have the stump ground, it is big and I didn't want that machine digging up my flower bed! I'm going to take this year to brainstorm and maybe put in an evergreen shrub of some kind. I am wondering how the shade/sun will change. My big Sycamore is there as well as the Ash next door.

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