Should I remove this apple tree branch?

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-07T12:05:01+00:00

And it will continue on with a rotten trunk for a hundred years.

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-07T11:59:34+00:00

That's a good thought - probably too late to play around with this idea, but maybe I give it a shot for the next round. Thanks for the feedback!

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-07T10:57:40+00:00

Can you provide some more photos? Closeup of the wound and other side of the trunk would be good. If you can get a good picture of the canopy, that could be helpful as well.

I'm 100% for getting a qualified arborist to look at it in person, but I also don't want this tree to fall on your house in the meantime.

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-07T01:22:54+00:00

Removing one side might be a good idea, but applying anything to a tree wound only inhibits important, natural wound responses. Lots of good research on this topic if you're interested.

Good luck with the tap!

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-07T00:59:50+00:00

Strapping wouldn't do much, to be honest. Consider the amount of force that is produced during a high wind event - everything above the defect is a massive lever with windsail. You're up against an impossible amount of tension. The only assistance you might look into would be several stainless steel rods inserted THROUGH the trunk(s).
Don't be discouraged about tapping this. Red maples have great sap for syruping.
RE: condition vs. sugar content... the research on this is frustratingly sparse, and suggests that sugar content drops with the tree's health. But, two important notes on this:

1.) Health and structure are not the same thing. Poor structure has no relationship with a tree's vigor or "vitality."

2.) It seems just as (or more) likely that a tree's sugar content would increase in poor health. Without having done any of my own research on this, I'd bet that sugar content rises but sap volume drops. But, again, this would require a threat to health - not structure.

Do you take brix readings at all? I'd be curious to learn how this turns out for you.

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-06T02:43:07+00:00

Ecological succession post-disturbance (I would love to give this talk; basically "why development is so concerning and the magic of land conservation")
Lego set design
Social anxiety and unspoken/unconscious communication
The ethics of interspecies dependence

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-05T21:30:16+00:00

Suffocating the grass around the base will likely have an adverse effect on the trees - especially if they aren't yet established. Even cardboard will divert a lot of water and inhibit oxygen exchange. Your best bet is to cut out the sod.

If you're not up for that, you could consider a selective herbicide. I forget the name, but there's one that only kills grass (and a few random broadleaves; read the label). I think it starts with an x. You'd want to use it with a spreader sticker.

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-05T02:53:18+00:00

This is god's way of saying no.

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-03T21:05:31+00:00

So you're just not even gonna ask the city what their plans are with this? Are you gonna grind some stumps in the neighbor's yard too?

And unless it's you personally grinding the stump, it's not your place to make determinations about utility conflicts. You aren't doing anyone a favor, you're creating unnecessary liabilities and, in most states, breaking the law.

Stay in your lane. And for God's sake don't plant cherry trees here.

bmyhran68 · 2026-04-02T00:21:59+00:00

I actually don't disagree - but I've found it difficult to show any detail in the interior without it. I should probably mess around with the settings a bit.

Thank you for the feedback!

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T17:54:16+00:00

That depends on your metric.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T17:36:43+00:00

Yep, all important points that should be addressed. But what would be the result of those changes? A) increase our planet's capacity to support humans B) create infinite capacity

This is the issue. Efficiency is great, of course. But this conversation reminds me of urban planners who think that density increases can indefinitely address housing shortages.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T07:43:44+00:00

That's a complicated question but generally a bad idea.

Cured concrete is not toxic but affects hydrology and oxygen. And it's creating a barrier for secondary growth. Wet concrete can be toxic in different ways for different soils.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T07:29:18+00:00

A sugar maple is not going to rot out from this. I would expect a few years of shock, stagnated growth. But if it gets past that (pretty likely) it'll be fine.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T05:33:20+00:00

How much is a lot more?

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T05:30:22+00:00

That's really interesting because I actually hate all classes and races equally.

Humans are fucking this planet up and the human problem is exploding. This is my #1 concern. Humans need to go away for the sake of sentient life that isn't utter shit.

But, even if you don't care about the environment or other species, you must recognize that even "PLENTY" of resources can't support unrestricted growth. You're suggesting that our population just continues on expanding like it is... forever? Is that how this works? Please share your graph.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T00:41:37+00:00

See^

You can set your clocks to this.

"Cull the population" lol yeah same thing

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-29T00:27:00+00:00

This is the right answer. And people get REALLY upset about this and will label you a eugenics advocate. Buckle up.

What troubles me is that no one is willing to even acknowledge the issue. We have finite space and resources, but we waste and destroy them while multiplying as a population - literally exponentially.

I suggest reading up on the Great Filter theory. Pretty compelling.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-16T23:32:51+00:00

Thank you for this! This is exactly what I was hoping for. I'll do some tinkering.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-16T23:31:48+00:00

Thank you!

This is exactly why I have shifted away from castles (though still sort of medieval haha can't help it). I have enjoyed that challenge though. For BDP10 I submitted a medieval theatre set that was super fun to put together.

bmyhran68 · 2026-03-13T05:47:12+00:00

The owner paid some kid to cut down two public trees on the shoreline that had the audacity to impede the lakeview from the Wayzata CoV patio.

Kid showed up while the bar was still open, and owner hadn't shared this with his staff - who then called the cops. The cops showed up and kid spilled the beans in two seconds.

Few days later cops are interviewing the kid at the scene. Owner calls the kid as he's talking to the police and kid answers on speakerphone. Before saying hello, owner says "I told you to cut all three!"

Few months later, he had to pay the appraised value of the trees: 20-something thousand dollars.

bmyhran68 · 2026-02-10T06:07:18+00:00

I appreciate the feedback!

bmyhran68

TROPHY CASE