This oak has bottle butt, but is still strong enough
When it comes to trees, the oak is often revered for its strength and resilience. It has been used for centuries to build ships, homes, and furniture due to its sturdy and durable qualities. But what exactly is a “bottle butt” and how does it affect the oak’s strength?
A “bottle butt” refers to a specific shape of the tree trunk where it flares out at the base, resembling the shape of a bottle. This unique growth pattern can occur for a variety of reasons, including genetics, environmental factors, or even past injuries to the tree. While it may not conform to the typical straight and uniform shape of a tree trunk, a bottle butt does not necessarily indicate weakness in the oak.
In fact, many oak trees with bottle butts are still incredibly strong and can withstand harsh weather conditions and natural disasters. The wide base of the trunk provides stability and support for the rest of the tree, making it less susceptible to being uprooted or broken by strong winds. Additionally, the irregular shape of the trunk can create unique and interesting patterns in the wood, making it highly sought after for artistic and decorative purposes.
Furthermore, the strength of an oak tree with a bottle butt is not just physical. It represents resilience and adaptability, as the tree has overcome challenges and continued to thrive in its environment. This characteristic is a testament to the oak’s ability to endure and persevere, making it a symbol of strength and endurance.
In conclusion, while a bottle butt may not be the traditional shape of a tree trunk, it does not diminish the strength and value of an oak tree. In fact, it adds to the tree’s character and serves as a reminder of its remarkable ability to withstand adversity. So the next time you come across an oak with a bottle butt, take a moment to appreciate its strength and resilience.
And now with all those holes the tree has been compromised.
Thats a huge ass tree
Just wondering is there any liability risk with this, like if you tell the home owner the tree is safe and then it does fall under non extreme conditions is there any risk of liability?
To my understanding for any liability the homeowner would have to prove some form of negligence or false reading, basically proving that the cause should have been detected
Not yet, anyway.
Fun fact: mature trees are mostly dead. Beyond the cambium (containing the xylem and phloem) and leaves and maybe parts of the the bark and roots, it’s all deadwood
Wow, this is cool science, I like this😮
I wish we had these in our country. I mean the tree doctors/inspectors for our trees.
Philippines 🇵🇭
10 inches of good wood lol
When we moved into our home a decade ago, we had to cut down a 25' tall Pinon tree. I was so sad. I could tell it had been really beautiful.
Truly a magnificent specimen.
I wonder is there away to fix it??
I am remembering a tree my family owned. It was an extremely old, soft maple that stood in the front lawn of the house I grew up in. It suffered several nicks to the bark while using an old hand powered rotary mower. Fast forward about 15 years. It was interfering with the cable that brought electric power into the house. Also, several large branches now overhung part of the house, and dad got nervous they could damage the roof if they fell in a storm. He had those large branches hacked off close to the trunk. The tree survived these insults, sprouting new small branches near where large branches were cut off. It was now home to a family of squirrels, whose hole was just above a branch that lay horizontally for the first ten feet out from the trunk. Cute watching babies emerge and play on branch about 15 feet up. But again, evidence the tree was going hollow caused dad to decide the whole tree should be cut. We used a heavy log chain, and a neighbor's large tractor to ensure the tree fell away from the house. When the fellow hired for the felling started cutting, he noted a lack of resistance. When the cut was finished, it revealed only 1/4 inch to at most, 1 1/2 inches of solid wood under the cambium before it hollowed out.the hollow was both below ground level, and about 16 inches above ground. Above that, the trunk was completely solid, except for the squirrel hole, no bigger than the leaf nests squirrels without holes build. It looks like the old lawn mower was what killed that tree, letting agents of rot penetrate. Oh, and it took us over a year to burn that tree up, using the surviving large branches as stove wood, but the main trunk was much more than double the length of dad's chainsaw blade. No way to cut through it. We used that trunk as a back stop for trash fires until it was consumed. This was before dump truck routes were extended as far from town as our farm.
I'd be scared to make that call. Leaving it alone is free. Unless it does fall in a big storm then you regret taking the risk.
no need to drill that one… It was a driveby removal… NFW would I trust your math with that tree leaning over house. I've been on the other side a few times, being the only arb to say save this tree…. If you are think gina botu keeping that, which I wold never do… you would have to do a devere crown reduction
I would reduce it spikeless no reason to wear spikes during a prune
Correctly prune it and reduce it less than 60% when in doubt, reduce it
I see basal rot alot more in white oak than red in my area. It’s fungal.
Saved the magnificent tree! ❤❤
Always thought drilling would introduce wetness and rot. Are there any sonar-based instruments for this?
Tree lovers unite. Let's hug some trees.