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Facing a split trunk on a mature maple: bolt it or let it go?
Last week, I was called out to look at a big maple with a serious split running down the trunk. Some arborists I know swear by using bolts and cables to secure splits like this, saying it saves the tree for years. Others argue it's too risky and that removal is the only safe option. The split was deep, but when I checked, the wood inside was firm with no signs of rot. I remembered a job from a few years back where a similar tree was bolted and is still standing strong. After talking to a buddy who's been in the trade for decades, I decided to bolt it because the tree was healthy and not near any buildings. It took a full day to get it done right, and I'm still on the fence about whether it was the best call. What's your take? Would you bolt it or take it down?
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kellygibson7mo ago
Wait, twenty years ago? That oak has been bolted for two whole decades and it's still fine? That's crazy to think about!
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angela437mo ago
Remember thinking bolts were just a quick fix that would fail. Saw that same twenty year old oak last fall and it hit me how wrong I was. The tree is huge and healthy, like the bolt let it heal and move on. Really makes you question why we jump to removal so fast. That single tree changed my whole view on giving them a real chance.
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jenniferj657mo ago
Bolt it.
You said the wood inside was firm with no rot. That's the key for me. If the tree is healthy and not threatening a house or a sidewalk, it's worth saving. I saw an old oak with a split that got bolted twenty years ago and it's still fine. Removal is always the last choice. You did the hard work to give it more years, and that's a good call.
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