Unpopular opinion: Climbing spikes on removals cause more harm than good for tree health

I read a study from the ISA last week that said using spikes on live trees for removal creates entry points for decay that can linger for 10+ years even after the tree is gone. My old boss swore by them for speed, but now I'm wondering if we're just creating more work down the line. Has anyone else seen long-term issues from spike damage on removals?

3 comments

3 Comments

black.joel1mo ago

My old climbing partner had a running bet about how many spiked trees he could wreck before getting caught - three grand oaks in one neighborhood before the HOA finally banned him. The kicker? Those trees were scheduled for removal anyway, but the spikes left these weird rotten cavities that attracted woodpeckers and eventually weakened the whole structure (we had to crane one out because it was too dangerous to climb).

grant.sam1mo ago

So he speedran a tree removal service and lost to a woodpecker.

robertgreen1mo agoOG Member

Yep, spikes kill trees slow but they still kill em.