The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[MySmallWorldof4]

She was gracefully angry but we got a LOT of looks from the people in the line....

You know you will have to elaborate more about this, right?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I need advice from semi strangers- please!

My Oak tree (the one that was struck by lightening) is going to live!

However, I still got a quote on taking it down. $5,000!!!

Q. Why would I take down a healthy tree?
A. ACORNS.

I’m torn over this. On one hand it would help the squirell invasion.. as in possibly decrease it. It would also save hours of paid work that I hire a neighbor kid to do- vacuuming up the acorns... and even with that, they’re still always all over the yard and deck.

On the other, the tree survived a lightening strike, so is it horrible of me to now kill it??? To willingly spend that money even though it’s alive??
It’s a pretty tree, but those acorns and squirrels...


What would you do?

That is a load of money. If you cut it, replace it with another tree like an evergreen.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I’m really leaning towards the removal. I just don’t know. I wish I could be guaranteed that it would drive away the squirrels.

I guess I’m just wondering if anyone has been faced with a similar decision, and how you came to whichever option chosen.

I hate to see an Oak tree cut down if it isn't going to hit your house. Just to cut down on the population of squirrels, no. That would only decrease the population slightly. You can have hordes of squirrels without a single Oak tree in sight. The most effective thing that I have seen to make them disappear is to have a Hawk take residence close by. We had squirrels all over the place before the hawk showed up. Haven't seen a single squirrel in two years. And we didn't sacrifice a single tree to do that. To me squirrels are nothing more then bushy tailed rats. I'd find another way to drive them off before I spent that kind of money with no guarantee that they won't just find other food source close by and just stay there. I'd rather see the fuzzy rats die.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I’m really leaning towards the removal. I just don’t know. I wish I could be guaranteed that it would drive away the squirrels.

I guess I’m just wondering if anyone has been faced with a similar decision, and how you came to whichever option chosen.

We removed a Mulberry tree last year. I love trees, but it needed damage control as well. The decision came to remove it when we had a huge rainstorm and a blast of wind took out a huge branch.

 

[Cesar R M]

View attachment 316191

 

[21stamps]

That is a load of money. If you cut it, replace it with another tree like an evergreen.

It’s $2200 for the surgery/treatment/branch removal. Still a lot less, but makes the $5k a lot more palatable as opposed to vs. no cost.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I hate to see an Oak tree cut down if it isn't going to hit your house. Just to cut down on the population of squirrels, no. That would only decrease the population slightly. You can have hordes of squirrels without a single Oak tree in sight. The most effective thing that I have seen to make them disappear is to have a Hawk take residence close by. We had squirrels all over the place before the hawk showed up. Haven't seen a single squirrel in two years. And we didn't sacrifice a single tree to do that. To me squirrels are nothing more then bushy tailed rats. I find another way to drive them off before I spent that kind of money with no guarantee that they won't just find other food source close by and just stay there. I'd rather see the fuzzy rats die.

Great points here @21stamps. It is not just the lone tree the squirrels are drawn to. I forgot if you had an exterminator go to the house. Have you checked out pest deterrents? We had mice in our house last winter. Saw one by accident scurrying across the attic floor. It was very cute and my animal loving kids didn’t want it or others killed, so we got humane traps and then freed them outside. But when one turned to 12 in a couple of days, it was time to bring in the exterminator. Haven’t seen one since.

 

[21stamps]

I hate to see an Oak tree cut down if it isn't going to hit your house. Just to cut down on the population of squirrels, no. That would only decrease the population slightly. You can have hordes of squirrels without a single Oak tree in sight. The most effective thing that I have seen to make them disappear is to have a Hawk take residence close by. We had squirrels all over the place before the hawk showed up. Haven't seen a single squirrel in two years. And we didn't sacrifice a single tree to do that. To me squirrels are nothing more then bushy tailed rats. I'd find another way to drive them off before I spent that kind of money with no guarantee that they won't just find other food source close by and just stay there. I'd rather see the fuzzy rats die.

I have an oak tree in the front yard too, so it definitely won’t rid them completely. I would be able to walk on my deck and backyard barefoot though, wouldn’t wake up to the sounds of acorns pinging off my car, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my child or another child getting killed or severely injured by a falling branch when playing outside.. although I think either option would correct that last one.

We removed a Mulberry tree last year. I love trees, but it needed damage control as well. The decision came to remove it when we had a huge rainstorm and a blast of wind took out a huge branch.

Yeah, that happens often on this tree too!

Great points here @21stamps. It is not just the lone tree the squirrels are drawn to. I forgot if you had an exterminator go to the house. Have you checked out pest deterrents? We had mice in our house last winter. Saw one by accident scurrying across the attic floor. It was very cute and my animal loving kids didn’t want it or others killed, so we got humane traps and then freed them outside. But when one turned to 12 in a couple of days, it was time to bring in the exterminator. Haven’t seen one since.

I can’t do that without endangering my dog according to the people who came out. And I don’t want a bunch of rotting squirrels in their tunnels.


Tough decision. I’m going to sit on it for a few days.

To those who have Oak trees in a play area of the yard or deck— how do you control the acorns?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I have an oak tree in the front yard too, so it definitely won’t rid them completely. I would be able to walk on my deck and backyard barefoot though, wouldn’t wake up to the sounds of acorns pinging off my car, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my child or another child getting killed or severely injured by a falling branch when playing outside.. although I think either option would correct that last one.



Yeah, that happens often on this tree too!



I can’t do that without endangering my dog according to the people who came out. And I don’t want a bunch of rotting squirrels in their tunnels.


Tough decision. I’m going to sit on it for a few days.

To those who have Oak trees in a play area of the yard or deck— how do you control the acorns?

No oak trees in my yard or neighbors. We actually do not have squirrels. Saw a chipmunk a couple of months ago. We have lots of pine and flowering type trees in the neighborhood and we planted fruit trees in the back part of our yard. I can understand the reasons for wanting to cut down the tree. My dh had a huge acorn tree in his family’s home backyard. They had issues with the acorns too. They did say that the more acorns that the tree had, the worse the winter would be. They had to cut it down when it had too many dead branches. If you remove the tree just replace it with maybe a pine, flowering, or a weeping willow. Those are really pretty.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I have an oak tree in the front yard too, so it definitely won’t rid them completely. I would be able to walk on my deck and backyard barefoot though, wouldn’t wake up to the sounds of acorns pinging off my car, and I wouldn’t have to worry about my child or another child getting killed or severely injured by a falling branch when playing outside.. although I think either option would correct that last one.



Yeah, that happens often on this tree too!



I can’t do that without endangering my dog according to the people who came out. And I don’t want a bunch of rotting squirrels in their tunnels.


Tough decision. I’m going to sit on it for a few days.

To those who have Oak trees in a play area of the yard or deck— how do you control the acorns?

Oh. Our exterminator just put down kill traps.

 

[21stamps]

Speaking of hawks.. I was just leaving home and LOOK at what’s on a corner of my deck!!!




Maybe it overheard @Goofyernmost

I’ve never seen that before!!

No oak trees in my yard or neighbors. We actually do not have squirrels. Saw a chipmunk a couple of months ago. We have lots of pine and flowering type trees in the neighborhood and we planted fruit trees in the back part of our yard. I can understand the reasons for wanting to cut down the tree. My dh had a huge acorn tree in his family’s home backyard. They had issues with the acorns too. They did say that the more acorns that the tree had, the worse the winter would be. They had to cut it down when it had too many dead branches. If you remove the tree just replace it with maybe a pine, flowering, or a weeping willow. Those are really pretty.

I would probably leave that part bare just in case I ever do decide on a pool. But I would plant something elsewhere!

You’re really lucky that you don’t have oak trees in your neighborhood. Mine is full of them. Horrible planning by original developers.

Oh. Our exterminator just put down kill traps.

There’s literally at least 100 squirrels. They’re everywhere. We did the live traps.. caught a few, but I stopped those after I heard that it makes those captured squirrels get killed when released elsewhere.

I’m glad you got rid of the mice!!

 

[Songbird76]

View attachment 315958

We did!! Yesterday we got to the park around 11:15: met Tinkerbell, caught the Move It Shake It dance party, met the stepsisters, meet Cinderella and Elana, ate at Friar Nooks, met Ariel, took the clamshell ride twice, rode Dumbo, met Donald and Goofy, met Minnie and Daisy, ride barnstormer, then took the moving park bench to the front of the park, then went the hotel for pool time and French fries. It was a busy day and even the adults were in bed by 8:25 pm

Oh! I thought the moving park bench was closed because they are moving the track to make way for the Tron coaster. Or maybe they are GOING to close it soon.

 

[DryerLintFan]

You know you will have to elaborate more about this, right?

I will likely do a trip report

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Oh! I thought the moving park bench was closed because they are moving the track to make way for the Tron coaster. Or maybe they are GOING to close it soon.

Think it closes soon along with the raceway, but I believe they reopen next year. Not sure of the timing though.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Oh! I thought the moving park bench was closed because they are moving the track to make way for the Tron coaster. Or maybe they are GOING to close it soon.

Definitely not closed yet!

 

[Figgy1]

View attachment 316200

Hey

 

[Figgy1]

I need advice from semi strangers- please!

My Oak tree (the one that was struck by lightening) is going to live!

However, I still got a quote on taking it down. $5,000!!!

Q. Why would I take down a healthy tree?
A. ACORNS.

I’m torn over this. On one hand it would help the squirell invasion.. as in possibly decrease it. It would also save hours of paid work that I hire a neighbor kid to do- vacuuming up the acorns... and even with that, they’re still always all over the yard and deck.

On the other, the tree survived a lightening strike, so is it horrible of me to now kill it??? To willingly spend that money even though it’s alive??
It’s a pretty tree, but those acorns and squirrels...


What would you do?

I'm the wrong one to ask. We had a beautiful oak tree when I was a kid and we made money raking up after it. I miss that old tree

 

[Figgy1]

Calling all you fahionistas! I'm torn I have enough of this to make the tunic I made yesterday but dress length. Should I make a whole dress out of it or color block it with navy blue as I did with the one I posted. If I color clock I'll have enough for a dress and a top. Fun first world problems

 

[Figgy1]

I hate to see an Oak tree cut down if it isn't going to hit your house. Just to cut down on the population of squirrels, no. That would only decrease the population slightly. You can have hordes of squirrels without a single Oak tree in sight. The most effective thing that I have seen to make them disappear is to have a Hawk take residence close by. We had squirrels all over the place before the hawk showed up. Haven't seen a single squirrel in two years. And we didn't sacrifice a single tree to do that. To me squirrels are nothing more then bushy tailed rats. I'd find another way to drive them off before I spent that kind of money with no guarantee that they won't just find other food source close by and just stay there. I'd rather see the fuzzy rats die.

^^^^^ sad but true