Huge Cottonwood Gets Trim At Barbee
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Workers began taking down the old cottonwood tree on the east side of Big Barbee Lake Wednesday.
"It's 120 feet, easy," said one Mudrack Tree Service employee about the height of Larry and Linda Smith's landmark.
A boom was used to lift a man into the highest branches. He used a chain saw to trim twigs in the crown back to a branch. Limbs that looked small and spindly in the treetops, crashed to the ground as 8-feet-long logs.
"We chose Mudrack because they're insured," Linda Smith said Wednesday of the Fort Wayne-based company. "They were the only company, of four that gave us estimates, that was insured. It's going to cost $4,000 to trim it back, but its worth it."
Over the years the tree has become hollow inside. It has begun to deteriorate. Last year a huge branch fell on the side of the house at 13 EMS B20B Lane. That convinced the Smiths some trimming was in order.
There are a couple of more houses within striking distance.
They think the cottonwood may be 120 years old. Plans are to trim the tree back to the main trunk and leave the trunk standing.
The tree service will be on site for three days. The Smiths offered the wood for free. One person called and picked up some bark, Linda said, and hasn't called back about more wood, so the service is grinding up the branches. [[In-content Ad]]
Workers began taking down the old cottonwood tree on the east side of Big Barbee Lake Wednesday.
"It's 120 feet, easy," said one Mudrack Tree Service employee about the height of Larry and Linda Smith's landmark.
A boom was used to lift a man into the highest branches. He used a chain saw to trim twigs in the crown back to a branch. Limbs that looked small and spindly in the treetops, crashed to the ground as 8-feet-long logs.
"We chose Mudrack because they're insured," Linda Smith said Wednesday of the Fort Wayne-based company. "They were the only company, of four that gave us estimates, that was insured. It's going to cost $4,000 to trim it back, but its worth it."
Over the years the tree has become hollow inside. It has begun to deteriorate. Last year a huge branch fell on the side of the house at 13 EMS B20B Lane. That convinced the Smiths some trimming was in order.
There are a couple of more houses within striking distance.
They think the cottonwood may be 120 years old. Plans are to trim the tree back to the main trunk and leave the trunk standing.
The tree service will be on site for three days. The Smiths offered the wood for free. One person called and picked up some bark, Linda said, and hasn't called back about more wood, so the service is grinding up the branches. [[In-content Ad]]