What a day - lucky I guess

6 years ago

Last night we had a storm. I was happy to see no damage this morning. As a bonus, Hammer Gold arrived (yay!). I gave it a good soak and went out to pot it this afternoon. Then I looked up -

Well, maybe it's just light leafy stuff.

Nope.

So my husband and I started the process of cutting up and removing the branches

A slightly battered Zippity Do Dah

Black Beauty, the spare Galaxy and Flower Power got pushed around a little.

And Miss Linda Smith had a small branch land on top of her.

The branch landed exactly on the walking path. It did take down a couple other branches as it fell, but the damage was unbelievably minor. Of course, part of the bed will be a lot sunnier, and there might be some burned plants, but I feel like luck was on my side.

Here's where the branch landed and took out one of the edgers, just inches from Leapin' Lizard.

Featured Answer

newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada

6 years ago

So the tree will survive without the branches? So it was the wind that brought it down?

I think in our case it was due to poor formation of branches and then eventually rot set in. I have to wonder whether the whole limb needs to be cut down now. We'll need an arborist to assess the tree.

The limbs never look as big on the tree as when they are on the ground. Just to the right of branch that fell is the area where many a raccoon has camped out for a night.

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Comments (11)

lindalana 5b Chicago
6 years ago
Omg, sure lucky no one is hurt. And damage to plants seems minimal. Those things ate much heavier than people think.
MadPlanter1 zone 5 thanked lindalana 5b Chicago
Jon 6a SE MA
6 years ago
Be careful. They are not called "Widow Makers" for nothing.
MadPlanter1 zone 5 thanked Jon 6a SE MA
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peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
6 years ago
So glad it was not worse on your lovely garden.
MadPlanter1 zone 5 thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
6 years ago
Glad to see you were lucky to have minimal damage. We woke yesterday morning to see a branch hanging over our backyard. One end was supported by another partially broken branch and the other end held up by a telephone wire. We were also lucky to have had minimal damage. Had the wire not been there, we would have had shed or fence damage and several of my potted hostas smashed. Just as lindalana said, those branches are heavier than you think!
MadPlanter1 zone 5 thanked newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
MadPlanter1 zone 5
Original Author
6 years ago
Newhostalady, I'm glad you had minimal damage, too. Also that the phone wire held.

Once I walked around the leafy part, it was a major part of the tree. Even cut up it was heavy. Our neighbors are bringing a truck to haul away the usable firewood. Still can't believe it landed exactly at the cross point of two paths where there was nothing to squash.
mbug_gw
6 years ago
I'm glad you had minimal damage. Best wishes for the cleanup!
MadPlanter1 zone 5 thanked mbug_gw
miles10612
6 years ago
Glad you escaped with little damage. We were also lucky a quick storm with some rain and a bit of thunder (very important in our house since our Great Pyrenees has a major meltdown when she knows a storm is coming). After we lost one of the major branches of a red oak 5 years ago, we had tree specialists come in and inspect the tree to make certain the tree wasn’t diseased.
MadPlanter1 zone 5 thanked miles10612
MadPlanter1 zone 5
Original Author
6 years ago
I think the tree will live. It's just a nasty old thorny honey locust that was part of the woods around our house. I cleared the brush and left the trees for shade. Honey locust have a habit of rotting inside. The branch that fell was half rotted through, and the storm must have cracked it enough it fell the next day. Except for the shade, it's worthless, and the thorns are a menace.

Getting an arborist is a good idea. Your tree sounds like it's worth saving. With luck it just needs trimming.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Oh, I didn't know Honey locust trees have a habit of rotting inside. I will have an arborist look at our tree. I'll have to wait a bit because their estimate for any work will only be good for one month, and I'm not going to risk having any branches come down and ruin my garden!

I think if I had any luck, then we could remove the tree. You see, my two huge maple trees totally cover my backyard and our city has strict rules about when and if a tree can be removed. And then rules about replanting etc. and everything else!
MadPlanter1 zone 5
Original Author
6 years ago
Ugh. We live on 5 wooded acres, and the only restrictions are digging where there are utilities. Moved here partly because we had 4 dogs and 2 cats. The city annexed our neighborhood, and they had a two pet limit.

On the down side, I spent the morning clearing honeysuckle out of a waking path. Love our place but LOTS of upkeep.