GardenHelp.org

Over the weekend my husband walked past the Stewartia I’ve been mourning, and the homeowner was in the garden. He bravely asked why they had cut down the tree. The answer, “It was getting too big.” I’m still a bit suspicious about that answer, but I do recognize that Stewartia get quite large and this tree was planted pretty darn close to the house.  Still…hmmm…

As well, he told my husband that he had tried to get someone to dig the tree out for him, but the tree services he’d spoken to did not think they could remove it by hand. And, they weren’t able to get their tree spades into the tree without damaging the other trees between the street and the tree to be removed. Plus, they were concerned about damaging the retaining wall between the house and the sidewalk during any removal. I’m sad about that answer too.

Arbutus unedo Blooming in November

I’ve dug out and successfully moved some smaller, but established trees by hand in my time. I will readily admit this tree far exceeded any tree I’ve ever removed through hand digging and hauling. However, given the chance, I would have tried. Even if I’d failed and the tree didn’t make it, I’d have only lost an afternoon (or two) with friends trying. Clearly, this “too big” tree was going to be removed one way or the other.

Now I’m curious to see what happens when the five Arbutus unedo they planted 18″ on center start to mature. At least they’re close to the curb and a tree spade might be able to take them out “when they get too big”. Then again, they’re crammed in between two maturing Katsuras, so some poor plant is going to pay when the poorly planned over planted area out grows the space.  I guess a few more specimens will eventually bite the dust — unless this area gets corrected soon, while the Arbutus are still young.

More on moving big trees and chopping down this specimen here:

• Chopping Down a Specimen, Part II
• Options to Chopping Down a Specimen (aka Part I)
• Moving and Transplanting Trees, Part I
• Moving a Dormant Stewartia Tree (aka Part II of Moving & Transplanting Trees)