Off topic cottonwood tree needs a haircut

DENNIS MIN · Jul 30, 2015

All,

I am no woodsman, lumberjack, tree trimmer...

You get the idea. I've a tree about 15 inches in diameter, about 45 feet tall, which has a crotch about at 25 to 30 feet.

This monster gets bigger daily and grows 5 feet from my meager shed, and nearly within striking distance from my attached garage.

My question is: can I trim 1/3 to 1/2 of the tree and will it live? Or better yet, should I even bother?

I like trees, but I like my home, and my shed even better!

Just collecting and acting on the combined wisdom if this spectacular site.

D.

fixerupper · Jul 30, 2015

Cottonwoods can take a lot of damage and not be hurt. They also drop limbs and branches and sticks every time you have a strong wind. My first thought is to cut it down and plant a nice maple there if you want shade.

60 acre hillside · Jul 30, 2015

T second. except a maple grows slowly. I would plant a pecan

RBoots · Jul 30, 2015

Cottonwood trees always seem to have large, if you could call them that, arm sized limbs that seem to break off in a stout wind. Then the next one over won't ever lose any limbs. I think it's more prevalent with a good leaf cover with rain and a good wind. Seems like I'm always running over cottonwood limbs in the woods when I go cut wood.

Ross

dzc3 · Jul 30, 2015

I like them, but I say cut it down now while you can handle it. In 10 years it will be huge

Dave H (MI) · Jul 30, 2015

Supposed to be the largest native Michigan tree. I have seen some huge ones. Look at it in terms of where it is most likely to fall if it should fall. I don't like to cut down trees unless it is absolutely necessary. Not everyone feels the same.

notjustair · Jul 30, 2015

The nice thing about an elm or cottonwood is that they are self-pruning. The bad part is that they usually prune themselves onto your house or shed.

If you have lots of trees around I wouldn't worry about it. There are others to help dissipate the wind force. If it is lone I would have someone top it out.

Russ from MN · Jul 30, 2015

We had 8 of them in our front yard here in Bemidji, I would guess they were about 15 years old, we have only owned the property 7 years. This spring the biggest one (16 inch dia) started giving off cotton, we had heard about how messy they are, but wow!! I cut that one immediately, and chopped out the stump by hand, what a job. I just close cut the last 4 this week and had someone else grind the stumps out, much easier!
Up at our cabin we have 25 acres of them and they are 15 years old, and just started giving off cotton this year. We hope to sell them to the paper mill in the near future and then just plant spruce between the stumps. They were an experiment that didn't work out very well.

Janicholson · Jul 30, 2015

Silver maple and several others grow rapidly. I planted (silver) in my front yard 16 years ago. it was 1" in diameter. now it is 28 feet tall and 6;5inches in dia. Jim

Steve@Advance · Jul 30, 2015

Cottonwood is not a desirable tree in my opinion. They grow fast, grow big and cause lots of damage when they come down. But the worst is the blowing cotton! Gets everywhere, especially in the AC condenser coils.

FBH44 · Jul 31, 2015

Nope, you'll kill it. Trees are not grass, you cannnot trim them or top them, they will start to rot and cannot heal themselves. Cut the branches back at the 'collar', where the branch joins the trunk, BUT LEAVE THE COLLAR. Cut the out-board end of the collar, where the branch joins the collar. Leave the collar. She'll heal just fine that way. Tree-trimmers and toppers are just slowly killing their trees.

GordoSD · Jul 31, 2015

Plant a few apple trees. I have some that do very well up north. Harrelson, Harrelred, Honey Crisp, COnnel. Granny Smith. I keep all the ladies within 5 miles in apples for fall pies.
You know the two best times to plant a tree? Today and 15 years ago. LOL

MichiganMike · Jul 31, 2015

If it were mine it would have been cut out a long time ago. At 5 foot from shed it is just doing damage or will. If the tree is topped it will just cause the rest to spread out more. It will then be harder/cost more to cut down later.The crotch it self is trouble waiting to happen. Good luck and be safe...MTP

Off topic cottonwood tree needs a haircut

DENNIS MIN

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fixerupper

Well-known Member

60 acre hillside

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RBoots

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dzc3

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Dave H (MI)

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notjustair

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Russ from MN

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Janicholson

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Steve@Advance

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FBH44

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GordoSD

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MichiganMike

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