Tree support—disguise or decorate?
by
Jeanne888
+15
This lovely live oak tree in my backyard has a very long horizontal limb growing out over the roof. It finally started rubbing on the porch roof and we were faced with a question: Cut it off or support it. Because it is beautiful and provides some shade for the house in the hot Texas summer, we opted for a support. The photo shows a substantial iron pipe support, with a U-shaped cradle at the top, that is functional but way ugly. I'd like suggestions on how to either disguise it or decorate it. And please, no barber poles! :-D
15 answers
-
Jeanne, I would get some stackable stones to encircle the pole and plant a climber. Look at Home Depot or Lows, I think they have some design ideas in their garden/stone section. I would also call your county extension service and have them look at the tree. With two very large leaders (trunks), sometimes it can cause problems....
Louise Biernesser
on Feb 28, 2014
-
That limb will continue to cause problems. I'd remove it.
Adrianne C
on Feb 28, 2014
-
I'm afraid I agree with Adrianne, you're not losing the whole tree just a limb,. I hate cutting anything off but sometimes it's for the good of the whole......
Dana Huempfner
on Mar 01, 2014
-
I would say also cut it, but seeing that is not an option. Can you cable the branch to a higher area above the tree and remove the pole all together? The branch is only going to get bigger and the pole will begin to wear on the bark causing it to eventually weaken and fail And when that happens say good by to the roof on the porch. Using cables will allow the branch to sway in the winds without coming into contact with the roof. But in the long run, you will eventually need to remove it as its not safe and if it breaks when people are under the porch someone could be hurt.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Mar 02, 2014
-
How about getting a whiskey barrel cut it in half across the top and assemble it on either side of the post but you'll have to cut a hole in the bottom to accommodate the pole then add dirt and attach something decorative like a rope to hold the two pieces together. add dirt and a vine such as a clematis or climbing rose.
Lori T
on Mar 02, 2014
-
I think I'd be inclined to get an arborist to come out and see if cabling was a possibility, as Woodbridge says, but there are many vines that would happily scramble up that pole for you. My first thought would be a Texas native passionflower, Passiflora incarnata, which would bring butterflies to your yard, but if you want something evergreen, there is Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, or coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens.
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 02, 2014
-
Clematis, climbing roses, goodness the lists is endless. Just a matter of what you prefer.
Catherine Smith
on Mar 02, 2014
-
Hooray for you for keeping the limb of this beautiful oak! It appears that your carport could shifted, if need be, in the future. I have wonderful childhood memories of running up an oak limb of a tree that had been blown over during a hurricane years before. If I can find a photo, I will post it.
Jann
on Mar 02, 2014
-
I would cut the limb off before mother nature does it for you. Then your going to have a roof repair or worse just because you wanted to keep a branch. If your sentimental about the tree, after you have the bench removed, why not use part of the branch for a seating area below the tree or make it into a bench.
CC
on Mar 02, 2014
-
Make it a tether ball pole for your kids or grandkids and paint it vibrant and striped
CC
on Mar 02, 2014
-
if you choose to plant a climber be very careful as many climbers will kill the branch, creating the problem you are trying to avoid. but I would check on the cabling that is much healthier for your tree
April E
on Mar 02, 2014
-
Thanks to all of you for responding. We did not want to cut the limb, there was nothing to cable the branch to, so we had already chosen to use a support. And it will be a long time before the limb has enough leeway to rub on the support and become damaged and fall on the roof. So we were looking for a way to make the support less ugly.
Jeanne888
on Mar 03, 2014
-
Lattice column built around it with vines growing up and into the tree.
CynK
on Mar 04, 2014
-
Paint it white and hang two or four lights and make a pole light, you could add a base that has been cut in two and attach to make it look more complete
Kincaid99
on Oct 25, 2015
-
I like the light pole idea another option might be to make it a plant hanging pole. or put a flower pot around the bottom to put plants in and the lights up above. I bought a solar light that has a pot at the bottom and it is really pretty when the flowers are in bloom.
Carey
on Nov 14, 2016
Sign Up to Answer
