Would you cut this tree?
By peavey
@peavey (16936)
United States
June 16, 2018 5:13pm CST
It was all I could do to not reply with what would have been taken as a rude response. We have a "neighborhood" site here (through Facebook) where locals post things of interest to the community.
Cottonwood trees are one of the very few native trees in the area and some of them are several hundred years old and are leftover landmarks from pioneer days.
Okay... so the post said something like her neighbor's air conditioning and her swamp cooler were both clogged with cottonwood "cotton" (seed fluff) and she had notified the authorities so the tree could be cut down.
That might not bother some people, but it bothers me. That tree was here long before there was such a thing as air conditioners - back when, if you wanted to cool of, you went and stood in its shade. The temperature under a tree is generally about 10 degrees cooler than anywhere else. Trees expire moisture, which is critical in a semi desert such as we are. Trees breathe out oxygen, which we all need more of.
But air conditioning is apparently more important. I don't know if the tree is going to be cut down or not, but I hope not. It's entirely possible to go out and clean the vents in an air conditioning unit.
13 people like this
16 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
16 Jun 18
If there was a way to petition the potentially cutting down of the tree I would do it.
There are always ways to prevent the tree's "fluff" from getting into the air conditioning unit, there isn't a way to restore a tree after it's been felled.
I'm mad right along with you.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
16 Jun 18
@peavey If the county and / or city recognizes it's significance, I would think they would refuse to cut it down. The neighbor whose property it is on could come forward with their own arguments against the cutting down of the tree as well.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
17 Jun 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum I hope so, on both counts. It's just so sad to see
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
17 Jun 18
Hi Peavey. There are things that only trees can provide.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
20 Jun 18
@mlgen1037 I don't think they understand much about the environment.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
19 Jun 18
@peavey Yes, those you mentioned are what they provide us. I do not understand why some people just want to give up those.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92373)
• United States
17 Jun 18
If I don't have air conditioning I get sick. And I don't have a lot of money to continually fix it. That being said, I would hate to see such an old, beautiful tree cut down. However, if they are having their health affected, I would understand if they removed it. But I would definitely take the wood and repurpose it.
2 people like this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
17 Jun 18
I think that is not a justifiable reason to cut a tree. They can be trimmed but never cut it. You can't surely grow a tree overnight. But you can buy an aircon that easy. I hope authorities will consider things. And besides that cutting a tree is never easy here. You have to ask permission from authorities.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
18 Jun 18
@chavezrmc I will do what I can. There were some replies to the post but I haven't had the courage to see what others are saying.
1 person likes this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
17 Jun 18
@peavey you can also do your share in stating your concern to proper authorities. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
17 Jun 18
I don't think that it's a serious enough problem that an old tree needs to be cut down. I'm sure they could find another solution to their problem.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Jul 18
I would have it cut down myself. We cut it had someone else takes down a tree that was over one hundred years old. But when limbs fall it takes out out power for a week at a time. It could also take out or house and I'm always hunting down feeding that grow in bad places. Granted out house wasn't there as long as the tree, but God made the trees for our enjoyment.
They could always replace that tree with another. And maybe their air conditioning unit are too high to reach or they work took much to remember.
You could have stated your case for the tree and apologized if you sounded rude. Maybe the author wouldn't have seen it that way.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Jul 18
@peavey I'm not saying you have something to apologise for, but this is a discussion sure. We should be ready to receive opinions that don't agree with our way of thinking.
I just meant that if your ever worried someone would think you're being rude you could tell them that not your intent.
@popciclecold (38586)
• United States
17 Jun 18
Wow, people will use anything, just to convenience themselves.
1 person likes this
@Anaeu92 (138)
• Castlebar, Ireland
17 Jun 18
As much as Iove nature and trees, cotton wool trees are pretty dangerous when you inhale the seeds. It is also damaging properties and they can make a mess in someone else's garden and screens. I bet the owner of the tree does not go to clean their neighbor's messes. I wouldn't say cut the tree, but chop off some branches or get a solution to meet halfway.
1 person likes this
@reskyyandi (3608)
• Indonesia
18 Jun 18
Can they cut a tree without permission? It's strange.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
18 Jun 18
@reskyyandi I think they should, too. And to answer your question, they were asking the authorities to cut it down.
@reskyyandi (3608)
• Indonesia
18 Jun 18
I think they should find another solution.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
17 Jun 18
Maybe trim the branches close to the ducts, but leave the tree standing. 
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
17 Jun 18
I am sure they don`t cut trees just because some woman is to lazy to clean out the a/c.
1 person likes this
