Sucks when a big landscape stalwart starts to decline.

How much of this big fella is above your house overhanging where you sleep? I have considerably more tolerance with tree out in the middle of the yard than ones which will hurt me or my car if they fall.

Personally I suspect you'll be taking part in a kind of medical experiment with the tree. IF the arborist is even 20% sure the treatment will work ask him to pay 20% the cost of removal by a third party if it doesn't. You'll get an idea how sure of himself he is.

You're probably on the right track with root damage being part of the problem. I'm not that big on all them soil treatments either.

Oh, as you ask though my experience with slowly declining big trees is limited.

Somethings not right about that measurement. A tree with a 42' circumference would have a 13.5' thick trunk and would be a world record for that type of tree. If it had a 42" circumference, it wouldn't be an exceptionally large tree.

If the construction on your house (and therefore the soil compaction around the tree) was done 10 years ago, it's too late to be trying to correct it now. The root system damage is already done.

Pictures could really go a long long way towards telling us more about your tree. Without seeing it, it's just shooting in the dark.

It's hard to judge the arborist's intentions or thoughts without seeing the tree and without talking to him first hand, but I'd have some questions for him before paying him $2000 for what you describe.

Give me some more information and I might be able to help you a little in your search for answers. If I can offer more help, I'll either respond here or email you.

Things that jump out at me are:

o pruning every two years
o construction in root zone
o trunk injections
o fertilizing with compost tea
o gigantic circumference

Cutting into flesh raises risk of infection. Cutting roots risks loss of vigor or life. Trunk injections are asking for infection. Fertilizing with compost tea almost certainly has done zero.

So. Without being there, my reactions are the tree has been infected with some sort of pathogen from all the...um...attention. Impossible to tell what without being there.

Root collar excavation may be warranted and you'll want to get two other certified arborists out there to look and give their opinion, which likely will save you money.

This is a big tree, regardless of the circumference, and should have professional attention. If Morton was out there it may be worth the attention.

Dan

Dan, you're right. Normally I'm a little skeptical about doing much work to "regular" neighborhood trees. I leave all the bracing and metal wire structure reinforcement to places like MOBOT to do. When a tree in my yard gets a big dangerous split I don't brace it, I chop and replace.

I didn't make the connection with Morton Arboretum caring so much about this one tree!

Shadey, can you put up a picture of the tree via photobucket or one of the other hosting sites?

I meant to say the diameter is about 42-43 inches, not circumference. Yes, this is a big, beautiful tree. I will try to get a shot later today when it stops pouring rain out there.

I appreciate the input.

Shadey

Including a pic of where the bole meets the ground, root zone context, and a wide shot of the canopy if possible so we can frame your questions for the other arborist visits.

Dan