Insane Tree Vandalism (PIPs) [UPDATE]

[simpsongal]

UPDATE:  Okay, we don't know who did it.  BUT our neighbor across the street said she heard one of the newer neighbors say on 2 separate occasions how much he doesn't like our tree.  If this is the same crossfitter guy that spray painted marks on the street, I could absolutely believe he would be brazen enough to cut down a tree he doesn't like.

Between Sunday night and Monday morning, someone cut down one of our gorgeous 40+ year old specimen trees. W.T.F.? INSANITY.  The cut is a good 6+ feet off the ground. We're thinking it was someone tall, or teens w/a ladder? Clearly a saw. WHO DOES THAT??? We reached out to our neighborhood - no one saw anything but everyone is stunned.  We're LIVID. We're filing a police report and calling insurance though I'm not sure what insurance will do.  This was a gorgeous tree. We found it mostly cut down like 80% (hanging) and laying across the street.

I think it's a weeping blue atlas cedar.  Tagging treedimensional - DH wants to try and train a new leader, I don't know if this tree can be saved.

ETA: We have an arborist from Save a Tree coming out, and we're also getting a quote for removal and replacement.  Our insurance sucks - there's a $500 deductible and a policy limit of $500 per tree.

The weeping tree in the pic below (2014 pic)

For scale so you can see how high the cut is:

The cut down portion in our refuse bin

[orval]

WTF!!! how terrible! I can't imagine why someone would do this.

[dottyblue]

My jaw is on the floor. WHO DOES THIS!?

I'm so sorry for your tree loss. This makes me so sad.

[simpsongal]

@juno, I don't think so. It wasn't obstructing any view that I could think of. We're all on pretty ample 1/2 acre lots. And it's been there for 40+ years. It's so bizarre right? I have no idea why someone would target that tree. DH parks his car by the adjacent curb, almost underneath (it was parked there that night). The trespass is disturbing.

We have a small park behind our house, sometimes teems hang out there and drink. DH had sunglasses taken from his car 3 years ago. But never any property damage.

[OG Jo]

My heart is crying for you. This is absurd that someone would do this. It had to be planned, it's not like you left a freaking saw laying there.

[adhdfashion]

What the heck! That is totally bizarre and sad. Poor tree.

[downtoearth]

So sorry - the loss of that tree and the costs that you now have to incur are terrible. What a weird and strange vandalism? Has this been happening around your neighborhood?

[simpsongal]

Sept 5, 2017 12:11:46 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

So sorry - the loss of that tree and the costs that you now have to incur are terrible. What a weird and strange vandalism? Has this been happening around your neighborhood?

No, I put the word out and nothing. You'd think if it were dumb kids there would be other damage in the area. DH and I walked around the park yesterday and didn't noticed damaged trees or anything. I'm curious what the police will say.

It's so brazen and weird. 

[thejackpot]

Wow. That's crazy. So sorry about this violation.

[cmeon]

This is terrible- I am even touchy about doing maintenance trimming to my favorite trees (dork)! It makes my stomach hurt to see such a pretty old tree harmed on purpose.

It really is weird, but, people really are weird and the things they do are even weirder. I hope you can save it.

ETA: Since he parks under the tree- you don't think someone was trying to hurt his car, and (ineffectively) pass it off as an accident? Road rage? On the road parking hater?

[megstoo]

I'd be pissed. Get a few estimates for the tree removal if you are going that route (we used JL Tree Service if you're in northern va).

[mrsukyankee]

That's horrible.

[bullygirl979]

WTF?! WHO DOES THAT?

[simpsongal]

cmeon, I don't *think* so re: car damage. A few other folks park on the street, and we're on a 1/2 acre corner lot, so well w/in "our property area." Ya know?

We filed the police report, and insurance said they would cover removal if we go that route. Frankly, we might try to save it and train a new leader. I think it would be hard to remove w/o hurting the Hinoki cypress bushes around the base.

megstoo, we used them too! They cut back our cherry tree from our house. I'll definitely get a quote from them if we go the removal route. Or Meadows Farms might do a removal and replacement.

[cmeon]

Sept 7, 2017 7:43:20 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

cmeon , I don't *think* so re: car damage. A few other folks park on the street, and we're on a 1/2 acre corner lot, so well w/in "our property area." Ya know?

We filed the police report, and insurance said they would cover removal if we go that route. Frankly, we might try to save it and train a new leader. I think it would be hard to remove w/o hurting the Hinoki cypress bushes around the base.

megstoo , we used them too! They cut back our cherry tree from our house. I'll definitely get a quote from them if we go the removal route. Or Meadows Farms might do a removal and replacement.

It's so mysterious- obviously a purposeful cut. It may have been an accident that nobody fessed up to? Someone was supposed to trim/butcher/remove a tree for someone and got the address wrong? Do any of your neighbors have a security camera that might have picked something up?

I'm sad for you, it sounds like saving it will be quite a process- but, I think we'd give it a go, too.

[simpsongal]

cmeon, no security cameras. I wondered whether it was a mistake too...IDK. Why would a landscaper or tree service cut it partially through and just leave it hanging? There's a tiny chance it could have happened during the day Sunday and we didn't notice, but I'm pretty certain it was during the night. I think we would have seen the tree sprawled out in the street (we got home Sunday from my in laws around 6:30pm).

I've talked w/a lot of the neighbors but I'm sure it will be the hot topic of conversation at the picnic Sunday. We have a new neighbor doing work across the street - no tree work though.

[cmeon]

Yeah, it's definitely one big fat "Huh?" situation. You'll have to let us know if you ever get any answers! Poor tree!

[treedimensional]

This is more common than you might think.
It's amazing how many public trees fall victim to arboricide. People always have selfish (I can't grow GRASS) or completely erroneous reasons (it detracts from my business) for doing it.
I'm working on a case now in which a realtor drilled thirteen 1/2" holes all around the trunk of a tree growing in front of a client's business, sprayed RoundUp all over it, then put in a service request to the city to "remove a diseased/dying tree". Another recent case involved a homeowner who decided that she'd prefer flowers in the tree well in front of her house, so she sliced the bark all the way around the base of the city tree, then (as they always do) called the city to report the "sick tree". I don't think any of these vandals imagine that they will initiate a forensic investigation with that phone call. They think a dumbass with a chainsaw will come out and that's the end of the story, they'll get exactly what they want. 
As far as re-establishing a central leader on the vandalized tree, it may be possible but it will be a long time and lots of effort. You will have to bend and splint a limb into position, and make ongoing reduction cuts to subordinate the laterals.
You're fortunate that your homeowner's insurance covers anything other than the dwelling; as far as I know, most policies don't. High-value specimen trees often need separate insurance and it's not easy to find.

[thatgirl2478]

that's awful! I'm so sorry.

[hockeywife]

This is so terrible

[simpsongal]

treedimensional, that is awful. Our insurance adjuster and arborist said they had never seen a case like this - b/c there's just no reason for it (e.g., petty neighbor). IDK, it was the talk of the neighborhood picnic today.

To update, the arborist said we could train a new leader, that it would take a while. He recommended we do a fertilization and insecticide treatment they'd inject in the ground around the tree (it's a micro and macro nutrient - kelp based formula). $160 for each application (so $320), and enough to treat our japanese maple (which he said had evidence of spider mites).

[treedimensional]

Sept 10, 2017 19:47:24 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

treedimensional , that is awful. Our insurance adjuster and arborist said they had never seen a case like this - b/c there's just no reason for it (e.g., petty neighbor). IDK, it was the talk of the neighborhood picnic today.

To update, the arborist said we could train a new leader, that it would take a while. He recommended we do a fertilization and insecticide treatment they'd inject in the ground around the tree (it's a micro and macro nutrient - kelp based formula). $160 for each application (so $320), and enough to treat our japanese maple (which he said had evidence of spider mites).

He is SELLING. Rule #1is you do NOT "fertilize" any tree or shrub that is struggling or has suffered an insult. 
Rule #2 is you do not fertilize any tree or shrub that has an insect infestation, because it benefits the INSECTS.

It's important to remember that plants MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD via photosynthesis. The only reason you apply fertilizers (EVER) is because you have done soil testing, which indicated that the soil lacks something you're about to apply. NO OTHER REASON.
Trying to force a tree to grow more leaves, or grow faster, when it is trying to ward of insects, or form woundwood to seal off a big injury, is forcing the tree to redirect resources that it would be using for these things, and use them to grow more leaves faster instead. You're forcing the tree to write bad checks.
Following this recommendation would be HARMFUL to the tree. It only benefits the SELLER.

[simpsongal]

Thanks treedimensional, I was wondering if he was legit - their brochure was so glossy (company is called Sav.a.Tree).

[treedimensional]

Sept 12, 2017 7:34:45 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Thanks treedimensional , I was wondering if he was legit - their brochure was so glossy (company is called Sav.a.Tree).

I know them well. Or, I thought I did. I'm very disappointed to learn that's who is doing this.
Selling unnecessary fertilizer and insecticide treatments is an extremely common practice. Very, very disappointed that these guys are doing it as well. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

WTF to the update. O.o

[karinothing]

simpsongal, that is nuts. I mean the tree is in your yard right? Not bothering him at all? People are insane.

[mala]

What in the world did he need to spray paint in the street?

[miniroller]

WOAH. What a nut-so update, not that I thought there could be any kind of normal explanation. I'm sorry man.

I would want to confront his ass so bad! (Not that I'm at all advising you to, definitely not alone/ without police presence)

[simpsongal]

Sept 15, 2017 6:11:56 GMT -5 mala said:

What in the world did he need to spray paint in the street?

like distances e.g. 100 meters, 600 it goes for a good 1/2 mile.

Yeah dh wanted to throw down. But I don't want to start something with someone who clearly has boundary issues and is crazy.

[cmeon]

Get cameras- all of your (good) neighbors should get cameras.