The Old Folks Home

[CSolis]

Are you in the path of that mess?

INDEED I was, but all the tomatoes poofed before they got close, then re-emerged to the east of me.. One landed about 2 1/2 miles east in River Falls, and one landed in Red Level to the north of me. All safe and sound now.

 

[ronott1]

INDEED I was, but all the tomatoes poofed before they got close, then re-emerged to the east of me.. One landed about 2 1/2 miles east in River Falls, and one landed in Red Level to the north of me. All safe and sound now.

That is good news!

 

[CLSranch]

but all the tomatoes poofed before they got close, then re-emerged to the east of me.. One landed about 2 1/2 miles east in River Falls, and one landed in Red Level to the north of me.

I hate to say how use to those I am. Although not being hit by one in my adult life, I've been within miles on a regular occasion. Kind of embaracing that I stayed in Long Johns that late but about a month ago we had rotation about 8 miles north and south of us at the same time with only a few miles E/W difference in them. So that AFTERnoon I decided to put on pants.

Glad you and your house are ok. They can be a real mood changer.

 

[Peep_Show]

Tomato poofs?

 

[getaclue]

Many years ago, when our yard was just raw land, two small Laurel Oak saplings grew almost side by side. Through the years, they grew into small trees, but ran out of room to expand. The trunks, having run out of room to expand, merged, and began growing together, but not as one tree. This created a mess. 20 years ago, when they built this house, instead of cutting down one side of the tree, the owners began cutting the big limbs on the tree(s) to try getting them to conform into 1 tree. They butchered it.

20 years later, with each of the trees fighting to be an individual tree, with the butchering of the limbs the previous owners had done, and the branches fighting for light, it became unhealthy, and began to rot in places. In addition, it's very near our pool, which they cut the roots when they put the pool in, but over time, more roots formed, and were starting to become a problem. In addition, the tree shaded the pool, so it wouldn't warm up like it should.

2 years ago, when our tree man came, I wanted the whole thing cut down. Nope, Dh didn't want to cut it down, and the tree man wanted to try to save it. I too hate seeing a good tree cut down, but this was NOT a good tree. Anyway, it got trimmed. The tree man did the best he could, with what he had to work with.

During the 2 years, more of the big branches began rotting, but it kept growing. I got really concerned about one side of the tree, so we called our tree man. When our tree man came last week, he warned that one side was so rotted out, it could fall, at any time, and was dangerous. He came today to cut the one side, and trim the tree. The more he cut, the more disease, and rot he found. After awhile, over half the tree was cut, and there was still a lot more that was rotten, and had to be cut.

During the conversation about how to best save it, Dd #1 said they should just cut the whole thing down, and we could plant another tree. She came, and got me. I walked out with her, and began looking. I told the tree man to cut it down. I reminded him, I told him to cut it down 2 years ago. He had done what he could, but the tree had never really recovered right. With all he was going to have to cut to get all the rot out, it might recover, but even if it did, it would take years of keeping it trimmed to get a decent shape, and lots of money. Even with all that, it would never be a good tree. He agreed.

It's down, and there went $1,000.00. Normally, tree services get around $3,000.00 for cutting down, and doing the clean up on a tree as big as this one. We were blessed that it didn't cost that much. I'm also grateful it got done before hurricane season, so we won't have it to deal with then.

 

[getaclue]

Dh is depressed about his tree. I'm already online looking for something to replace it. I a few weeks, Dd #1 and I will go get another Oak tree.

 

[Alaskan]

but all the tomatoes poofed before they got close, then re-emerged to the east of me..

Coolest plants EVER!!!

Tomato poofs?

YES!!!!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Sad to see the tree solved kinda but do understand .. We have one out front like that .. No tree man to solve it here ..
We are going rent a small bucket truck try it ourselves

 

[getaclue]

Yes, it's sad it had to be that way. It's the only real shade tree we had on the property, which is why the swing set, trampoline, etc. were under it. It was home to many birds, some squirrels, and there was even a wild rabbit burrow under it. I hate that they won't have their tree. By the same token, it was not safe.

 

[Alaskan]

Yes, it's sad it had to be that way. It's the only real shade tree we had on the property, which is why the swing set, trampoline, etc. were under it. It was home to many birds, some squirrels, and there was even a wild rabbit burrow under it. I hate that they won't have their tree. By the same token, it was not safe.

I would suggest that the new tree you pick has roots that won't be a bother.

I remember back in Texas... I saw a list once of trees likely to ruin sidewalks and pipes...

Supposedly some trees have pushier root systems than others.



But then.... the house I had back then had a few "bad" trees. I had 2 mimosas, and the one in front cracked the front walkway, and they shed stuff several times a year.

Also, they are short lived, maybe 40 years or some such, but they also grow fast.

But I GREATLY enjoyed them.

The one in the backyard was huge and shaded the flower garden and deck.

The leaves create the most wonderful dappled shade.

And the flowers are fantastic, the hummingbirds love them.