05/09/2020
Last week our arborist took down eight trees that were overhanging the Walker Brook roof in various spots, and pruned back several more. Our deal was that Chris would fell them, but that we’d handle bucking and splitting ourselves to keep costs down, and so we could cord it all for future firewood, and chip the small stuff for fill around the property. The arborist finished last week, so this week is a pause on demo so we can start cleaning up outside.
The common question is WHY though: why take down perfectly healthy trees? Don’t we realize we bought a house in the woods? There are a few reasons, but all of them have to do with the house itself, and would apply to yours, too.
1. Trees that overhang the roof of any house risk damage to the roof, either when branches scrape across the surface in the wind, or fall during a storm. Deciduous trees overhanging a roof will also clog your gutters or roof drains when they drop leaves in the fall, and if they block too much light, the roof will struggle to dry out? Making it prone to growing moss and lichens that hold moisture against the roof material and shorten its lifespan.
2. Walker Brook is, well, right by a brook - it’s a damp, humid location, even this summer when Boston has been terribly dry. Without sunlight breaking through the crowded trees, ground cover struggles to grow, which allows for faster soil erosion, and the soil itself - and the foundation of the house - never dry out without some occasional direct sun. Removing the trees closest to the house helps the sun break through and break down the mustiness inside.
And as for why we didn’t fell the trees ourselves: that’s really not a rookie maneuver, and our roof is one of three solid things about this house. We wanted everything - except the trees - to stay in one piece. This is one for the pros. 👌🏻
