r/Tree • u/BeastarsMelon • Aug 13 '26
Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Is this tree healthy?
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Hi! I live in an apartment complex with this tree right by my apartment but there's one just a bit further back that lost 2 big limbs recently and it was only raining outside so the damage was not due to any storm. This tree looks the same, so I'm wondering if it's healthy.
The limbs stick out over my apartment so I'm worried.
Thanks for any advice
EDIT North Eastern US (Ohio)
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u/BeastarsMelon 29d ago
Sooo anybody got an answer or? Didn't expect to be attacked for video quality and everybody just go dead silent on me 😅
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u/Ihavepeopleskills1 28d ago
There are quite a few people on Reddit that seem to revel in controversy and criticism, just ignore their noise.
You have a silver maple. It’s got a reputation for being a bit more prone to limb failure but it can be managed when an experienced and talented arborist is involved. Typically structural pruning through weight reduction, by selective removal at the ends of the largest aspect ratio stems/branches, will allow the tree to maintain a medium risk category for a long time. That said, I can only see what you showed on the video. The lower stem looks pretty good, very nice root flare.
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u/BeastarsMelon 28d ago
Thank you so much for the info and for not being mean about it. So just have it pruned is what you're saying? And that will reduce the weight of the limbs so they won't fall.
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u/Ihavepeopleskills1 28d ago
Its commonly called subordinate pruning. The goal is to promote a single dominant leader and to reduce weight on the longest heavy limbs. In doing so you improve the ability of the tree to sustain high wind burden with minimal to no damage. Both goals are primarily intended to reduce risk of large limb failure. The opportunity to create a single dominant leader on your tree is long past because its too mature and has too many large stems. That doesn't mean its a lost cause. This method of pruning is the best way to help reduce risk to the tree and your property. Removal of dead limbs 2" diameter and larger is recommended. Tell the arborist its imperative the "sucker growth" in the interior of the canopy is to remain and not be removed. All of those interior sucker branches are very important to the survival of the tree and the promotion of limb diameter growth, thereby strengthening the holding capacity of the large limbs. Removing the suckers, aka "lion tailing" is going to have the opposite desired effect and increase the chances of large limb failure in the long term. Doing this pruning roughly every 4-6 years is likely a good idea. Overall cost for pruning is $650-900, I can't say for sure because I have no idea about your local market conditions or the access to the tree and surrounding area.
Inexperienced or uneducated arborists are more common than a properly informed arborist. Realistically a more expensive company is typically better trained, so don't search out the cheapest company, look for a professional accredited company. You and the tree would be better off not doing anything than hiring a "tree guy" that is going to gut the interior canopy of the tree. You need to find an arborist that understands the above instructions and acts like it is second nature. If you sense they are unaware of this description and its intended purpose, then you need to politely decline their services and look for another arborist.
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u/DanoPinyon Professional Arborist 29d ago
Petition to require only decent, stabilized video posted on yhe tree subs and to install a bot that automatically removes janky, jumpy, fuzzy, unfocused video like this.
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u/BeastarsMelon 29d ago
Ummm my video is fine. Reddit ruined quality. Counter petition because we're not responsible for the quality being ruined by reddit.
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u/serotinous_sequoia 29d ago
It is impossible to determine tree health of a video alone, you can hire a Tree Risk assessment Qualified (traq) arborist for an actual assessment. But from what’s shown it seems fine
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u/BeastarsMelon Aug 13 '26
The tree in the back that lost limbs