Stonker!!? --the Yew Story continues.
I went by that lady's house Sunday. Her boyfriend was interested in what I was doing and I explained to him I would have a better chance of keeping the tree alive If I could dig it in the fall and so he talked his girlfriend into letting me do that. Her stipulation was that I take both yews since I opted out of that original option once I saw in person how big they were. I agreed to that.
This is yew #1, what to do with #2 and how to do it will be based on the forum members helpful feedback (within the limits of my agreement with the lady) since I have yet to make any cuts on tree #2.
Here are some pics. The house was built in 1920 and I have no doubt due to the size of the trunk these yews are at least that old.
Interesting things I found in the tree
A wiffle ball, a Nerf football, asphalt shingles, concrete pieces, terracotta pot pieces, chunks of brick, a 6 foot tall metal pole anchored into the ground, 2 softball sized rocks, 3 rocks the size of golf balls, a plastic boomerang, garbage, and a picture of Tachigi.
The red circle is the nick my chainsaw made in the metal pole I found sticking up in the middle of the tree, which broke my chain.
To me, if I can keep this alive, it looks like a fairly amazing find. The trunk is massive, at least for anything I have.
I made circular cuts into the ground with my shovel around the trunk in hopes of stimulating finer root growth by the time the fall arrives so that I will increase my chances when I lift this.
I know opinions are not in short supply around here and I realize I have a long way to go to be a respectable hobbyist so let me have it. what did i do right, what do i still need to work on? do you like the trees potential? Survival potential? etc. I'm interested in growing, not keeping my feelings from being hurt.
Thanks
Ben