Over the years our local electric utility has twice in the past stopped and announced they were going to remove a very large Mulberry tree from our yard. It’s growth was a hazard to multiple powerlines. Finally third time is the charm, as Duke Energy worked the past two days to remove this massive tree.
Large trunks flaring out from the base heading in all directions
Bucket truck reached in from overhead
First day started using a bucket truck for higher branches. This tree cluster had five large trunks that grew out from a center area. The crew had two men on large chain saws supported by six or seven ground workers moving the branches and waste up the steep bank to a road that runs on top of the flood control levee.
Hauling branches to the chipper
Lots of wood for hauling off the levee road
Lots of stump left to cut up
The large trunks were carefully felled to the ground. Once downed, the saw operators cut the branches for removal to the road above for processing in the chipper machine. It took great effort for the crew to haul all the branches and trunk wood to the road on top of the levee.
Lots of space opened up!
The finished product. Seems like we just gained 1/4 acre!
Roadtirement 
Wow, it’s a bit of a shame to see such an old, beautiful tree taken down but I understand the reason. Is there a river on the other side of the levee?
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Yes there is the Big Blue River, John. The levee was built during the WPA days.
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Oh, okay, thanks. I had a look at that river on Wikipedia. It’s 80+ miles long and a part of the Mississippi watershed. Take a swim! 😂
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Yes, the Big Blue ends up in the Ohio River, then on to the Mississippi. Caught my first bluegill in it when I was about five.
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That’s a fun memory!!
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Removing massive trees is a big job, and it is expensive if the power company doesn’t do it.
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True, I can’t imagine what this job would cost out of pocket.
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It’s around $10K to $12K to have a large cottonwood cut down out here.
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Glad that Duke Energy picked up the tab for ours!
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Absolutely.
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That was quite an operation!
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Anne it gave us two days of entertainment sitting on the swing watching the show! Thanks!
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