I'm planning on having a large oak tree, 1 1/2 to 2 foot Diameter, in our
back yard removed but was considering leaving a few feet above the ground
for a 'stump' house. We were originally going to put a tree house in this
tree but due to the size and the fact that it overhangs our powerline, not
to mention that it started going balistic in it's acorn production 7 years
ago and is destroying our lawn, have decided to take it down. I did
promise the kids a 'treehouse' so it will be a 'stump' one instead, maybe,
my question is can anyone tell me how long will a stump survive intact. I
mean if it'll rot out from under the playhouse I'd just as soon get it
ground below the surface and put up something else. If it'll stay sound
for 8 or 9 years I think I'll try it since by then the girls should have
outgrown it and I can then get it ground down. Any ideas?

Bill

Good question

The heartwood (that is a heartwood forming tree) if the trunk is not hollow,
in my view, could last 200 years if conditions are right. Remember wound
dressing does not stop decay. The bark would sloth in a couple of years and
the sapwood at the time of death will begin to decay. Again it depends on
the history (wounds) of the trunk when it was growing that will determine
the rate of decomposition. I wish I could take a look. I have some
pictures of some art I will try to post to a temp site.

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Bill" wrote in message
. 97.142...
I'm planning on having a large oak tree, 1 1/2 to 2 foot Diameter, in our
back yard removed but was considering leaving a few feet above the ground
for a 'stump' house. We were originally going to put a tree house in this
tree but due to the size and the fact that it overhangs our powerline, not
to mention that it started going balistic in it's acorn production 7 years
ago and is destroying our lawn, have decided to take it down. I did
promise the kids a 'treehouse' so it will be a 'stump' one instead, maybe,
my question is can anyone tell me how long will a stump survive intact. I
mean if it'll rot out from under the playhouse I'd just as soon get it
ground below the surface and put up something else. If it'll stay sound
for 8 or 9 years I think I'll try it since by then the girls should have
outgrown it and I can then get it ground down. Any ideas?

Bill

Heres the art I mentioned. maybe linseed oil or hemp oil could be applied.

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...2/cookart.html

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

Bill

You could also inoculate with shitake mushrooms. You would drill and put
plugs into the sapwood at the time of death to the tree. It may take a
couple of years.

John

"Bill" wrote in message
. 97.142...
I'm planning on having a large oak tree, 1 1/2 to 2 foot Diameter, in our
back yard removed but was considering leaving a few feet above the ground
for a 'stump' house. We were originally going to put a tree house in this
tree but due to the size and the fact that it overhangs our powerline, not
to mention that it started going balistic in it's acorn production 7 years
ago and is destroying our lawn, have decided to take it down. I did
promise the kids a 'treehouse' so it will be a 'stump' one instead, maybe,
my question is can anyone tell me how long will a stump survive intact. I
mean if it'll rot out from under the playhouse I'd just as soon get it
ground below the surface and put up something else. If it'll stay sound
for 8 or 9 years I think I'll try it since by then the girls should have
outgrown it and I can then get it ground down. Any ideas?

Bill

On 2007-03-16, Bill wrote:
I'm planning on having a large oak tree, 1 1/2 to 2 foot Diameter, in our
back yard removed but was considering leaving a few feet above the ground

What happened to the wood that was cut up? If the tree has not had pesticides
on it, any friends that do BBQing might want the wood -- it's great for smoking
meats! I got a few stump pieces from a friend that had an oak tree removed
and it makes fine smoking woods.. Sorry for being a bit OT!

Rick

I agree with you on the pesticide issue. In addition to what you stated.
Too often people inject and use systemic on trees. I would not want
somebody using that wood for smoking.


Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Rick F." wrote in message
...
On 2007-03-16, Bill wrote:
I'm planning on having a large oak tree, 1 1/2 to 2 foot Diameter, in
our
back yard removed but was considering leaving a few feet above the ground

What happened to the wood that was cut up? If the tree has not had
pesticides
on it, any friends that do BBQing might want the wood -- it's great for
smoking
meats! I got a few stump pieces from a friend that had an oak tree
removed
and it makes fine smoking woods.. Sorry for being a bit OT!