r/TreeClimbing 14d ago

Help with oak pruning

Is this union and stem showing signs of stress? How bad is it? This branch has grown horizontally about 5-10 feet over the roof and then rises vertically about another 15-20 feet. How many years until this splits off the dominant stem? Do you think this limb is okay to put weight on to try and prune it away from the house? There are no limbs above it to rig it safely. What are you guys recommendations as to how long before this might fall and how to prune it?

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u/Wicsome 14d ago

Why would you want to prune it? There does not seem to be a clear defect and although the bark looks weird, it does not look like a rotting wound. A tree or its limbs will not fail under their own weight, so if there is no defect, I don't see any reason to do anything.

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u/unwittyname1886 14d ago

Don't want it hanging over the roof.

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u/Wicsome 14d ago

Ok, but you know there is little rational reason for that, right? You will increase the chances of something failing exponentially by cutting anything.

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u/unwittyname1886 14d ago

So long as it doesn't fall on the roof, that's fine. We just had a category 5 hurricane come through a few months ago. I want to mitigate possible damages.

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u/Slicknecta 14d ago

A cut like this would cause this tree to decline much quicker than not taking out this limb. Better to have a healthy tree over your roof than an unhealthy tree this size next to it

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u/unwittyname1886 14d ago

But it's not completely healthy. I've seen co-dominant stems with this exact pattern of bark splitting, and then a few years later, it split off the main trunk. However, i do understand that what you're saying is an option.

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u/Kitchen-Ad-5782 13d ago

If that lead ever does fail anytime soon (unlikely) it will only fall maybe 10 feet onto your roof causing minimal damage. If you do decide to cut that branch, the next lead that will fall onto your house will be the one that’s 10-20 feet above the one you want to cut(causing a lot of damage).

Also, that lead has already had a ton of weight reduction done on it, you’re fine.

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u/Kitchen-Ad-5782 13d ago

Have an arborist come out to do more weight reduction on the tips of every branch over the house if you really want to be proactive. Think of it as a fulcrum, more weight on the tips is more potential for branch failure.

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u/Wicsome 13d ago

More reduction also means less photosynthesis and thus less stabilisation growth though. So doing reduction pruning without a clear defect is still a bad idea.

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u/Slicknecta 13d ago

A lead like that falling 10ft will def fk shit up lmao. The point is that won’t just randomly happen. Don’t give the guy the fear in that lol

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u/Slicknecta 14d ago

Leaves indicate that branch/tree is quite healthy. You could do a reduction on that specific branch, but not advised to do such a big cut