Question

Leaning tree   QUESTION: Hi,

My neighbors red oak tree is leaning toward my house.  It is a very large tree.  I think it is very dangerous but my neighbors insist it is OK.   Davey Tree Service told them it is OK and trimmed it last summer.  Rotten branches are falling again.   All the branches are on the north side of the tree.  There are no branches on the south side.  I noticed there is some rot in the roots on the north side.

I can send you more pictures.

What is you opinion?

Thanks,   Jim

ANSWER: Pleased send picture of the lean. The important thing would be the degree of the lean  if the root system is sound--not pilled up on the side away from the lean. A picture would help a lot.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jim,

Here's a link to the tree pictures >>>

       http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/jgbogner/

It's hard to see how much the ground is raised due to ground cover.   There seems to be some rot in the roots on the lean side.   Maybe do to them driving over the roots.   The tree has growen into their driveway probably about 20 inches.  By what I've read it would be considered a new lean because the top of the tree is growing the same as the lean and not growing straight up.

I hope this helps.   

Davey Tree checked out this tree and one in their back yard & said they were both OK & just needed trimming.   This was done last summer & they did trim the trees.   A little later a large limb feel off of the rear tree damaging the neighbors house & garage.   When it fell there was no wind,  it was a very still day.  Several tree companies said the tree should have been removed.  I think Davey just wanted to get extra money by suggesting the trimming.   My neighbors refused to take down the rear tree until they were forced by the city.   I had always thought Davey had the best reputation.    

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
         Jim

ANSWER: A leaning tree may or may not be a substantial hazard. It is necessary to distinguish between two types:
1. Natural lean
Not the greatest term, but a trees that have been leaning for much of their life. You can see sweep (curvature) of the stem, or maybe even a crook, where the tree corrected the lean. The upper stem is vertical, not leaning. There is no evidence of recent change, such as soil/root plate movement, cracking or stress bending of the stem. Sometimes natural leans can increase slowly over time as the weight of the stem increases.

2. Unnatural lean

A lean that is due to a relatively recent change in the orientation of the stem. You may see evidence of soil/root disturbance indicating that the root system has shifted in the soil. You may see cracking in the stem as it gives way. There may even be bending of the stem going on, usually associated with decay. The upper stem in an unnatural lean is mostly not vertical, but leaning. Trees with an unnatural lean have already begun to fail and are extremely hazardous. I would suggest closing sites immediately until the tree can be removed.

The pictures seem to indicate the tree is solid and the tree has grown as a leaning tree for many years. Since I can not check the tree out it seems healthy except for the lean. The "rot" in the roots near the driveway are from some surface roots but there are many other roots growing under the drive. Since Davy Tree is in the business of taking trees down and they say it is OK I tend to agree with them.

IF the crown starts to die and large limbs fall that show signs of being hollow then I would say the decay has grown up into the tree and the tree should be taken down. But if the limbs that break are solid and gave no decay and the foliage is green and healthy then the tree should be ok. This is a hard one without seeing the tree and the conditions. Might try calling the State Forestry agency and see if they can have a forester look at the tree. The tree service companies usually will always say take the tree down.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jim,

I抳e taken more pictures which should help clarify what抯 happening with the tree.

New pictures > http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l135/jgbogner/Leaning%20Tree%20-%20Group%202/

This tree has an unnatural lean (it抯 not a natural leaning tree).  See the pictures that will help document that it抯 an unnatural lean.   The top growth is with the lean and it抯 not growing straight as a natural lean tree would grow.   Also note the picture of base of the tree that shows the ground raised up on the non-lean side of the tree (it also shows in the pictures showing both trees).

The roots may be more damaged than just the rot.   This house is 90+ years old and has had a gravel driveway until last year when an asphalt drive was installed.   These trees were planted  shortly after the house was built.   For all those years salt water and deicer dripped on the gravel drive off of the cars.  We get lots of snow up here.  What damage would this have done to the tree?   Note in the new pictures that another tree was planted (at the same time) on the other side of the property and that tree seems to have no problems.

I don抰 think much about Davy Tree.  They really screwed up on their analysis of the tree in the neighbor抯 back yard.   I think my neighbors thought Davy was only trying to get an extra trimming job before they finally removed the tree.  The city had to force the neighbors to remove that tree.   I think Davy finally admitted to what they did & worked out a compromise rather than be sued.  I don抰 think too much of Davy because of their dishonesty.   Lakewood had to remove 55 very large trees from city property within the last year and I don抰 think Davy was used.
 
Another contributing factor is that most of the branches on the tree are on the North side of the tree and there are no branches on the South side of it.   Doesn抰 this create a dangerous situation since the tree is very large and those branches probably weigh several thousand pounds and are pulling the tree down?   I found this site on Google.  Please note their comment & picture about leaning trees.     http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/canopy2.shtml

I have pictures that show that the lean has increased since last Summer.  See the last 2 pictures in the photobucket link.  When I took the pictures I made sure that the corner of my house was on the left side of the picture so that there was a reference point to show the amount of the lean.  I took the same picture this last week.  If you closely compare the 2 pictures you can see that the lean has increased.  When comparing the pictures be sure the corner of the house, in both pictures, is parallel and line up the left roof edge (of the house across the street) of both pictures.  I found it easiest to print the 2 pictures and trim off the left side along the house抯 corner.  On the 2011 picture trim the picture along the right side of the trunk and put the 2011 picture on top of the 2010 picture ?this makes it very easy to see the amount of the lean since 2010.  These pictures were taken about 14 months apart.    How soon do you think until it falls?    

I very much appreciate all your input about my tree problem.

Regards,
         Jim

Answer
The pictures were great but it is still very difficult to truly say whether a tree is a hazard without being there and looking at all aspects--soundness of the tree and the root damage, and the crown health. IF I were to do anything I would remove the limbs on the side leaning say the first 6 large limbs. The space this tree is growing in is too small fro the root system especially since the drive was converted from gravel to asphalt. This would reduce the weight on that side. Beyond that I would evaluate the decay in the tree and IF it is present call the tree a hazard and remove it. I would suggest that you call the Ohio State Forestry folks--they have a Forest Health section and they should be able to send someone out and take a look. Here is the web link to their site. I do not know the distance from where they are to Lakewood so would not know if the section would come or get a closer Forester to come. http://ohiodnr.com/Home/health/OhioForestHealth/tabid/5203/Default.aspx

In any case it looks like the tree is leaning and needs attention either pruning the limbs or removal.  Sorry I can not give you nay better answer.