Cottonwoods: Full of Water, Hollow & Growing Mushrooms

You could dig your finger right into this tree..

Cottonwoods are funny trees. They can look big, healthy, and solid from the outside, while the inside tells a completely different story.

We recently took down an old dead cottonwood in Teton Valley that was hollow, holding a surprising amount of water, and had mushrooms growing inside the trunk. The mushrooms were a visible sign of the fungal decay happening within the tree, which had been breaking down the wood from the inside out.

The tree was tucked between two really nice homes, with no room for a lift to get in. To make things even more challenging, the tree was too far gone to safely climb. With significant decay and homes nearby, this had become a hazardous tree removal.

That left one option: put it on the ground.

With houses on both sides and very little room for error, this wasn't a tree you could just cut and hope for the best. We carefully assessed the tree and used some serious planning and mad precision to bring it down exactly where it needed to go.

Big Saw on this Hollow Cottonwood Removal in Teton Valley

Once it was on the ground, you could really see what was happening inside. The hollow sections, water, and fungal growth were a pretty good reminder that you can't always tell what's happening inside a tree just by looking at the outside.

Dead and declining cottonwoods can become a serious concern when they're growing near homes, driveways, or other areas people use. If you're concerned about a dead, hollow, or declining tree in Teton Valley, a professional assessment can help determine whether it can be safely maintained or whether tree removal is the best choice to get rid of it!

This one was too dead to climb, too tight to get a lift to, (Not to mention the landscapers had JUST put down new sod) and too close to the houses to take any chances. But with the right plan, we got it safely on the ground.

Cottonwood safely on the ground after Removal