Had to choose between a full removal or a risky crown reduction on a huge willow

Client in Maplewood had a massive weeping willow with major decay in two main limbs over their garage. The quote for removal was $4,200, but they begged me to try saving it. I went with the reduction, taking about 30% off the canopy weight over two days. It's holding for now, but I'm checking it every storm. Has anyone else had a willow with similar decay hold up long term after a big cut?

3 comments

3 Comments

anthonynelson3d ago

Yikes, @patricia32's story makes me nervous for you.

patricia323d ago

My neighbor's willow in Ridgewood had a similar cavity. We did a 25% reduction five years ago. It's still standing, but I see new cracks forming every winter. They're tough trees, but that decay never really stops.

roberth663d ago

Tried a deep mulch ring around ours to keep the roots from drying out. It seemed to slow the cracking by keeping the moisture more even. Might be worth a shot if your soil gets hard in summer.