We tried to save an elm with major branch damage after last month's storm. Some say we should have removed it right away, but others argue saving it was worth the risk. Where do you draw the line between rescue and removal for storm-hit trees?
Oh man, this takes me back. I was just reading how elms are extra tough calls because of Dutch elm disease. Like, if the tree is already stressed, a big injury might just invite it in to finish the job. Doesn't it also depend on where the tree is even standing? Like, is it over a house or just out in a field? That risk has to mean something.
Yeah but @miller.rowan, I gotta disagree on the risk part. If the tree is healthy, a good arborist can prune it so it's actually safer. My neighbor had a huge elm over their garage, got it trimmed right, and it's been solid for ten years. The disease is a problem, but it's not a death sentence for every tree that gets a cut. Sometimes the fix makes it stronger.