Hello shw,

The best inspection for your tree will come from a certified arborist. A fella with no financial incentive to have your tree "topped to ensure lack of wind sheer" or cut down so his company makes several thousand dollars during a slow week.

Around my house my eyes are always on the big white ash trees. Ever since one already showing a great wound from before I moved in, lost a tree size branch and had to be removed I keep a close eye on the rest.

Oh, and watch for rot near the bottom. That claimed two of my junk silver maples.

How could I tell if this tree will fall?

You can't. Too many factors at play for a distance diagnosis. As above, certified arborist only.

Dan

Thanks all.
I thought if the tree were nearing its age limit, I would save the cost of the arborist and just take it down. I will follow your advice and get to the Yellow Pages to find a certified arborist.

well if you are inclined to be done with it.. i agree.. dont bother with a arborist ...

its already severely damaged... and a threat.. what more info do you need???

i would NOT hesitate for one minute to be done with it ... i had six 35 footers taken out a few years back.. 15 feet from the house.. i sleep much better at night knowing i wont die in my sleep ...

and there is NOTHING you are going to do about that lean ...

ken

But then again, an arboricultural inspection (maybe $100?) might say it is safe, and save on $10,000 felling costs . . .

Eastern White Pine can live several hundred years.

Resin

The cost is only $1,500. But, we hate to take down a nice specimen. It is near the street, so they can pull the trucks almost near it.

How accurate are arborists predictions on these things? I'v known more than one person who got a good report from their doctor and passed within a week or two. The tree has been leaning for years, no sudden changes lately.

White pines are fairly easy to cut down and dismantle. Depends on proximity to house

Trees very rarely fall in a spontaneous manner unless there are hidden areas of serious rot or other defects. What does happen is large trees being tipped out of the ground by unusually strong winds or large limbs or trunk sections breaking under snow load and/or wind. Last October a section of an 80 foot pine broke off in freakishly strong winds and damaged my neighbor's roof. It was clearly long past time to have the tree removed.

I find it almost impossible to believe that anyone is going to remove a 100 foot pine for $1500, especially in an area of houses, cars, etc. where extreme care is required. 60 feet is about the upper limit for a boom truck, so some serious climbing would be needed to deal with the upper 40' if indeed the tree is really a 100 footer. I'd be amazed if any reputable company would touch this project for less than $5000.

This is an almost eight year old post, so not probably worth reviving.

Curious what you ended up oing