We killed three millennials.
But like most millennials, at least one of them was rotten to the core.
It all happened so quickly. One moment they were standing there, the next they were on the ground, cut limb by limb, chopped into little pieces, their insides spilling out onto the grass.
Of course, I am talking about the three birch trees we had removed.
If I counted correctly, they were around thirty years of age, but as you will see from some of the shots later on, they were no longer in their prime. They lined the driveway and it looks a bit empty, but not too bad considering. The lumberjack friend said there is about 2.5 cubic meters of wood from them, and we will have a chopping session on the weekend with the neighbors helping - and we will provide a barbecue.
We will also borrow a hydraulic splitter, so I will take some pictures of that too.
After they were cut, I was surprised to see how much water was coming out of the stump. They were wet. Though, I shouldn't have been surprised, because up in the tree where the rot had set in, it was wet there too. The worst of the trees was the one that overhangs where we park the car, and while I had trimmed all the branches I could reach with the long extension pole and ladder, every storm, more branches would fall.
It was just a matter of time.
And depending which way it would fall, it would either hit our house, or the neighbors house, so it had to go. The others were in better condition, however they weren't great either. I think it is because the ground in this part of the yard is sopping wet half the year, which is the other reason we had to take the trees out, as we are going to try and put in the proper drainage it needs to move the water from the spring thaw and the autumn downpours away.
Not looking great. And this was a piece that was in the process of rotting. There are other pieces where the core is just gone, or you can dig it out with a finger. We didn't take the stumps out yet, but if and when we do, they will either be ground down with a big machine, or torn out with an earth mover, depending on what we are doing to the yard. That can be done later though.
It was a bit sad to have to "put down" the trees, because it is killing something. However in this case, it might have been an act of mercy, and now there is space for us to grow something else in their place.
They died, so others may live.
As said, we are going to cut the wood from the big chunks into fireplace-ready pieces with a machine, but the crowns of the trees with all the leaves and branches were taken away.
Not before the neighbors came to pick over the bones.
They are in their eighties and we will borrow the splitter from them instead of bringing one from another friend. The "payment" they wanted was to steal some of the small branches to make a "vihta", which is a bundle of young birch branches tied together, that is used to whip each other in a sauna.
Vihta
bath broom, a kind of whip made of birch twigs and used in the sauna to enhance the effect of heat by beating oneself with it.
And since these trees weren't the healthiest, their crowns didn't have a huge amount of branches on them, but there were still plenty of offcuts.
But when you have the right tool for the job, cleanup is easy!
The lumberjack sent his "fixer" to take away bodies and it was literally three minutes from when he pulled up to the side of the road where the branches had been piled, to when he drove away with them all in the back.
It took two scoops.
Gotta say,
the Finns know how to do their forestry work.
And now the rest is up to us, where we have a cleanish garage ready to pile some of the cut wood up so it can dry, and the rest will go to the neighbors for their help.
Before the lumberjack (friend) started, I asked if I should call the insurance company, and he just laughed. The only thing that he had to not hit other than the house, was our young cherry tree, which is in bloom at the moment, as is the pear tree, and the apple tree is a day away. It all looks very pretty, but I wonder if they will feel the hole left where the birches were.
He didn't hit the cherry tree.
Though, we did take down a small maple that was also falling apart, and a horrible looking hedge-type plant, that I have wanted to remove for four years. We have a lot of work to do to make the yard look pretty, but at least, it is starting now - only a few more years to go!
All up, from kill to cleanup, it took about two hours, which is probably a fraction of how long it is going to take to cut the wood on the weekend. But hey, the weather should be warm, and the grill will be hot - so bring it on.
Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
Am I enlightened yet?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Birch trees are always so pretty, but also so fragile. It's a shame they don't last longer than they do. Getting a splitter is a great idea. It will make things go much easier for you! My friend @a4xjeeper bought a really nice one a year or so ago. He now has a pretty lucrative side business selling wood. I'm actually going to pick a couple rows up today after work. I also know what you mean about being sad they are gone. We had a big maple tree I still miss, but it was getting dangerous.
And that isn't a euphemism!
One of my clients has forest and enjoys making firewood, so does it too. We have got ours from a family member who has forest also. One of the reasons that the forests are so healthy here despite a big paper industry for a couple hundred years, is that the forests are owned by private people, so they tend to them, and then sell parts of them every generation to the paper companies. It has worked out well for all - if you own forest.
I am a bit surprised though, as while there is a bit of a hole there, it doesn't look half as bad I thought it would. Smallsteps was pretty excited to "plan" the garden with me after school today. She was acting like a foreman!
That is good. Sustainability is key. I see lots of tree clumps being cut down lately and it makes me a bit sad. I hope they are planting new for the future. Sadly we are losing a lot of trees due to invasive species too. That's awesome that your little one is excited about the gardenn
This is today from a cherry tree as well and see the climate difference mate :)
lol! We won't be getting any for another two months at least!
The photos you have taken look beautiful and the insects are beautiful too.
I like the insects. Tomorrow perhaps I will go out with the macro lens.
It's sad to cut down the trees, but would be even more sad if one had fallen on your house, the car or your neighbor's house. The greatest part of this tale is the neighbors getting together and sharing in the work and the food! Benefits everyone.
And far more expensive.
I agree! And they are excited about it too. I am hoping that one day, we will be able to recapture some of the neighborliness of old.
As it should be <3
I’m glad you have successfully cut down the tree cos I remember when you told me a few days ago that you don’t want it to fall on your car
Congrats on easing your mind☺️☺️
One of the ones that is still up (a rowan tree) will come down in a storm eventually - but we don't park under that :)
Many times we shy away from cutting down a tree or a plant that we have seen grow and flourish and sometimes not doing so is regrettable... Those trees as you describe should have been cut down or they would end up falling on your car or your house, so in this case there is nothing to regret, besides you can take advantage of the wood to enjoy the weekend at the barbecue. The photos you included are great, very good. Greetings my friend
We have only been in this house 4 years, so it wasn't too much attachment to them, but they were nice for a bit of midday shade in the summer. However, summer is pretty short here anyway.
That was a task, cutting down the trees. I believe you must be happy that none fell on any of you or the neighbors house
Yes, that would have sucked. But, that is also what insurance is for.
Can't wait to see the hydrolic splitter man.... But for real, what's the level of difficulty on this thing... You guys are doing some tough work
I have never used a splitter, so hopefully I don't lose a hand.
😂😂😂 hopefully my good buddy, but still please be careful with new tools
You got some fabulous shots, so there's that, too.
I always grieve when I cut down a tree, but the benefits have usually been many. I hope you feel that way in short order, too.
Enjoy the BBQ!
Yes bro, it was an act of mercy, besides, it was very close to the houses and that is something to consider... As you say, it's a new start for the garden, surely there is a lot of work to do, but you can tell there is also a desire to achieve it 😉 I really liked the photos at the beginning of the post, the details of the torn wood are mesmerizing, and also those insects.
I'm dreading cutting down the maple tree in front of my house. It's going to be a necessary evil as it is getting out of control. However, I can't really afford to pay for a service. Kryptik vs. tree may very well be the death of me.
Yeah, the inside of the tree was definitely bad already. I'm surprised they were able to finish quickly, but I guess that's the advantage of using big machines. We had to cut tall coconut trees before, and they needed a day for 2 trees including the stump.
It shouldn't be surprising to see a freshly cut tree stump get wet. After all the tree draws water and nutrients from the ground through a system called xylem.
Trees use capillary action to move water from the ground, relying on the cohesion and adhesion properties of water molecules. When the tree is cut, this movement is suddenly halted. Cutting the tree releases the pressure that was keeping the water in the xylem, causing the water to seep out of the cut surface.
In addition to water, birches can ooze sap, a mixture of water, sugars, and nutrients, from the stump.
Trees hold a significant amount of moisture naturally, so even when they are not actively transporting water, the tree's cells contain moisture. This moisture is exposed to the surface when cut, making the stump wet.
If the tree is dead, it often dries up. These birches, judging by their stumps, looked very sick but not quite dead yet.