This tree is finally dead after I have cut roots, cut the bark, and poisoned it. After the terrible ice storm we had back in December we lost power for a week. These fences were covered by trees all the way around. I have poisoned them and cut them down over the last few months and this was the last hold out. This tree is on the other side of the fence and has been a vacant rent house. As you can see in this photo, this was growing right into the power lines with a transformer on it. After the ice storm, OG&E installed a new pole but left over half the old pole so now we have two of them. As you can see they are very unattractive.
We have had two major ice storms in the last five years that have not only knocked out the power for a long time but has had damage to my house and power box on the back of the house.
In the picture above you can see this same tree with all the ice on it. The picture below shows it from a wider view with all the other trees that we have already removed. As you can see, this was a nightmare. It was like a forest in the power lines and we were constantly losing our power. It was nice having the coverage but not at the expense of the never ending damage.
This last storm was the final straw as all these houses around us are rent houses and the neighbors just let them grow wild into the power lines while we lose our electricity when storms come in. This tree took multiple high dosages of woody brush killler into about 13 1 inch holes drilled into the trunk. I also cut the bark all the way around it. This should be a little more peace this winter knowing there are no trees to fall on my house. Not surprising the neighbor’s have been glad to see them go but could not afford to cut them down themselves. One of the trees that you cannot see in this picture cost me $1,500.00 to cut down. I was not brave enough to cut it myself as it was very large and was growing into the high voltage lines on the top so we hired someone that was licensed and bonded.
As you can see, the tree above colapsed on the fence after a storm in 2005. I really hate to kill trees because I love the way they look. Unfortunately in my small yard with a 70 foot tower and a power pole with a large transformer on it, trees are just not an option. I realize that my actions will not likely prevent the next power outage because this naighborhood is filled with situations just like mine. The one thing that I will not have to worry about is an insurance claim for damages done to the house. The first storm was so bad because at the time the only heat we had was our central heat and air that requires electricity. That night the temperature dropped to 19 degrees. I had to borrow a portable propane heater from a friend to keep the pipes from bursting. Unfortunately it put off fumes where we could not stay in the house. I plan to cut this tree down now that it is dead. This way it will be out of the way. Everyone involved is happy to see all these trees gone from the lines. One time, I had to make a claim because the power line was intermittent and blew out one of my computer monitors and my neighbor’s television.
It looks as though the nightmare is almost over and maybe we do not have to sweat the next time an ice storm is forecast. The last storm we bought a power generator so we can still live in the house. I hope this is the end of all the repairs. As much as I like trees, this is not the right environment.