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Re: pine tree removal

Tim Dutton wrote:
> 
> I guess it all depends on your view of 'small' Tony. The last Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) that I saw blown down here in Upper Hutt had a root mass about 15 feet across. They are renowned for having a very shallow root system though, and big ones in exposed sites blow over frequently.
> 
> Like you, I have never seen a Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) blown down, and if my old trees are typical I never will. There are some pretty major roots breaking the surface over 20 feet from the trees, beyond the drip line. Whether this is because they are growing on a slope, I don't know. I agree with your idea of using a stump grinder if you want to get the roots out.
> 
> My neighbour helped me remove a ten year old P. radiata recently by knocking it down with his bulldozer. It actually snapped the trunk at ground level, leaving the roots firmly attached to the ground, and I had to use an axe to chop the stump and surface roots away enough to level the ground for the path that I wanted there. I wouldn't try it by hand with a mature tree (mine are over a metre across at ground level)!!!

Hello Tim, and others interested,

Thanks for your comment, and you are completely correct, P. radiata
(Monterey Pine) has a massive root structure which will certainly resist
ALL efforts to pull the roots out of the ground, and yes, the cypress
has a big root DISK, but in this case it is quite shallow and the trees
will blow over..

Your post reminds me that - at the time of the "Wahine storm" about 30
years ago (for non-NZ'ers, this storm with winds over 100mph sank a
7000-ton ship with heavy loss of life) - a friend at Pinehaven had the
experience of watching mature Radiata pines snapping off about 6 feet
above the ground and the tops blowing away like straws! THREE of these
big trees crashed down on the roof of his house. Fortunately it was a
strong construction and surprisingly little damage was done to the
house! Still, it is an indication of the strength of Radiata's roots!!! 

Tony
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand/Aotearoa ("Land of the Long White Cloud")
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