It is so tall that I am concerned it may fall on the house in a storm, but I
don't want to lose the privacy it gives. Can I have it cut to half its
height? How long would it last if it were cut.

"Kaygee" expounded:

It is so tall that I am concerned it may fall on the house in a storm, but I
don't want to lose the privacy it gives. Can I have it cut to half its
height? How long would it last if it were cut.

What makes you think it will fall on the house? The only way it would
do that is if it broke, which is doubtful, unless it's diseased.
Hickories are extremely deeply rooted, just try pulling a seedling out
of the ground once it has four leaves or so! You'll ruin the shape
completely if you cut it (or pollard it, I hate it when trees are
butchered that way).
--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

It is a native tree for your area. It will be just fine and you won't
have to worry about it. It is a hardwood tree that withstands high
winds.

J

Kaygee wrote:
=

It is so tall that I am concerned it may fall on the house in a storm, =
but I
don't want to lose the privacy it gives. Can I have it cut to half its=

height? How long would it last if it were cut.

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business. Quoted by the Ho=
uston
Chronicle Lazy Gardener as 1 of 7 best gardening websites in Houston.
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

I envy you your tree-- shagbark hickory is absolutely stunning.

Dave

"Kaygee" wrote in message
.. .
It is so tall that I am concerned it may fall on the house in a storm, but
I
don't want to lose the privacy it gives. Can I have it cut to half its
height? How long would it last if it were cut.

Almost certainly better to remove the tree if it is a hazard than "...cut it
to half its height."
Have a professional consulting arborist (see ASCA
http://www.asca-consultants.org/directory/index.cfm)
for a professional in your area. Good luck.
--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net



"Kaygee" wrote in message
.. .
It is so tall that I am concerned it may fall on the house in a storm, but
I
don't want to lose the privacy it gives. Can I have it cut to half its
height? How long would it last if it were cut.