I think the gas contractor killed my tree

[rockfan4]

The gas company (Xcel) recently ran a new gas line next to my street. They did a lot of horizontal boring, but also dug a lot of holes for the connections to the houses. They finished about 3 -4 weeks ago. One of the holes they dug was 6 - 8 feet deep, so that they could run a line to the house across the street. The hole was probably about 6 feet away from a large tree in my front yard. A couple weeks after the work finished, the tree started dropping leaves. A lot of leaves. Some green, some yellow. My neighbor thinks the gas work killed the tree, and I should get them to pay to take it down. I suppose it's that, turn it in to insurance, or pay out of pocket to take it down before it deteriorates to the point of falling on one of our houses. Do you think I should approach the gas company? How would you do it?

[KFC911]

How big/old is the tree ... any pics? Methinks you'd need some proof (expert aborist assessment) and at least here, unless a tree falls on your structure, insurance won't pay squat for loss of tree, removal, etc.

I really have no clue tho' ... "small claims court" maybe against the contractor?

Best of luck!

[stevej37]

I would call them first to stop out and take a look. They might see that they caused it and work it out with you. I would do it soon, while the leaves are turning.

Just my opinion.

[unclebilly]

Sounds like they are on the hook to remove and REPLACE that tree.

[unclebilly]

The cost to remove it correctly now with a stump grinder given there is a gas line buried there now ain’t nuthin’…

[KFC911]

You should also be taking pictures regularly of the tree with date stamps.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by KC911

How big/old is the tree ... any pics? Methinks you'd need some proof (expert aborist assessment) and at least here, unless a tree falls on your structure, insurance won't pay squat for loss of tree, removal, etc.

I really have no clue tho' ... "small claims court" maybe against the contractor?

Best of luck!

It's a big tree, older tree. I've owned this lot 20 years, it was big when I bought the lot.

It's raining, but here's a couple of pictures. The pickups should give you an idea of the size.

[masraum]

Maybe it's not going to completely die. Maybe it's just "stressed". Maybe some branches will die but most of the tree will survive. Hopefully, Baz will chime in as he knows about plants.

I'd think that it was the gas co. We had someone come dig a huge hole in our backyard for something. I think it was a large sewer pipe, so the city. They dug a huge hole that was probably 8' long and at least 6' deep within 2-3 feet of a 30-40' tall oak tree, so they had to cut through a ton of the roots, and it died. I think the missus called the city and their answer was "sorry".

Good luck. Maybe it's not going to die.

[KFC911]

^^^^ yep ... and hope

I hate losing large trees...

Good luck tree!

[LWJ]

1. Document. 2. Call them and ask them nicely to come take a look. Suggest they bring an arborist. 3. Negotiate BEFORE the tree dies or makes it if possible. 4. If you are happy with negotiations, yay. 4. If tree dies and you are not happy, turn a claim into their insurance carrier.

Confession. I did this to my neighbor’s contractor who reached over and through my fence to cut my trees. I was pissed. I won. But not enough to make me whole.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by LWJ

1. Document. 2. Call them and ask them nicely to come take a look. Suggest they bring an arborist. 3. Negotiate BEFORE the tree dies or makes it if possible. 4. If you are happy with negotiations, yay. 4. If tree dies and you are not happy, turn a claim into their insurance carrier.

Confession. I did this to my neighbor’s contractor who reached over and through my fence to cut my trees. I was pissed. I won. But not enough to make me whole.

Good advice...I would also suggest consulting with an arborist who is not connected to the gas company.

[juanbenae]

Do some research on the tree species to see if it is vulnerable to root pruning or excavation within the drip zone. If it is a hardy species by its look it could likely use some pruning/thinning to weather the trauma.

Some trees are ok with significant root work, others not so much. Get to know your tree some.

[DerkPerk]

Was the hole Xcel dug within the trees drip line? Like mentioned it is probably just stressed. Good luck! It sucks to loose old trees.


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[GH85Carrera]

AT&T is in our area, and neighborhood right now, on the easement, boring and digging to install fiber optic cable. I am lucky, and most of the digging is on the opposite side of the street. They dug a 5 foot deep hole the size of a typical water meter by hand on my property for the connection. I was amazed at the ability of the guy digging. The dug a 5 foot long trench to bore under the street to connect my house and the neighbors house.

They are going to every house and have a large crew working in 100 degree heat and a 115 degree heat index. Those guys are tough.

We had a tree that was stressed when the city added a new sidewalk along the "green space" of our neighborhood. We had to pay for a real arborist to come inject the tree trunk with fertilizer to help it recover.

[Baz]

In your photos.....I can't see where the digging is that is close enough to impact that tree.

It's all green turf, looks like. No brown dirt.

Did this happen a ways back and then the turf has now filled back in or been re-sodded?

I need to see where the digging was done relative to the location of the tree and it's canopy.

[rockfan4]

This is where the hole was, as best as I can draw.

Based off the broken branches from the pine tree.

[pwd72s]

Looks to be under the dripline...waiting for Baz to weigh in...

[Alan A]

I had to trim the hell out of a Japanese maple out front last summer. It was impacting the front of the house good style.

Over the next week all the leaves fell off it. SWMBO was screaming at me that I’d killed it.

This year you’d never know anything happened. Unless you are willing to get a pro to diagnose, you might want to give it a year before you write it off completely.

[GH85Carrera]

That close to the street may well be part of the city easement. Any other utilities run along there?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rockfan4

This is where the hole was, as best as I can draw.

Based off the broken branches from the pine tree.

OK thanks - that helps a lot.

Just based off what's been posted, it doesn't seem like a big enough hole - or that it's close enough - to actually kill your tree.

I would even go as far as saying it's a bit surprising your leaf drop is associated with the work they did.

Now that's just my take on it and I'm not there in person so I may not have the full picture.

Lastly, given the size and maturity of your tree.....more than likely it will recover IF the leaf drop was caused by the digging.

I suppose you could consult with a local arborist and/or tree company who is knowledgeable enough to render an opinion.

And as posted, documenting and informing the contractor who did the work would be advisable, just in case.

Good luck!