Persimmon Tree Question

[flatheadfisher]

This persimmon tree is in my back yard:

I really liked the tree and enjoyed the fruits. But, as you can see, the top was knocked off in a storm. I hate to cut it down but I don't think it will ever be a pretty tree again. I thought about trying to get enough boards out of it to make a box or something. However, I understand it is difficult to dry and that it warps and twists. Any suggestions? Would any of it be good for turning? Some of the limbs that fell off might be big enough to make pens out of. (I know very little about turning).

 

[Mike Davis]

That's about the size I make mallets from. It needs to dry a little with the ends painted or the pith will make it split when it finally dries. Sometimes it will split anyway.

 

[jeff...]

Trees have a way of healing of themselves. If it were me I would wait till summer and see what it's going to do.

 

[DaveO]

From the fence in the background for perspective, it looks like you might have a 12" dia. trunk there. By the time it is boxed out to the small end there won't be much to cut boards out of. But for turning wood it would be excellent. Jeff..is correct that the tree will probably live on, the root to shoot ratio is very strong, and I am sure it has a good root system that will promote new growth where the top has broken of. But it has lost it's apical meristem and now will form new branching out of the latent lateral buds which will result in side growth. So instead of having on central leader or trunk it will branch out on both sides of the wound and give you a nice twin trunked tree. For aesthetics it won't be too bad in time especially when in full foliage, but in the winter you will have a giant tuning fork for a tree. For lumber value, it's quality will continue to decline. This type of damage puts a great stress on the tree leaving it open to many disease and fungal problems.

MTCW,
Dave

 

[scsmith42]

Personally, I would DEFINITLY have it sawn. Yes, you won't get very large planks out of it, and yes it tends to move around a bit when drying,

but Persimmon is some incredibly pretty wood - lots of grain patterns and colors. A friend of mine built a breakfast nook in his home and sided the walls with persimmon, and it is gorgeous.

Scott

 

[DaveO]

Just for reference the top on this box is resawn book-matched Persimmon.

A little known fact is that Persimmon is the only tree in
the Ebony genus (Diospyrus) that grows here. In large trees you can find jet black heartwood that rivals the best Ebony, but most trees rarely reach that size :cry_smile


Dave

 

[wdkits1]

I'm with Dave
I would cut it down and saw it into lumber before the bugs get it.
It is one of the prettiest woods there is.
Mike

 

[flatheadfisher]

Yep, I think I will cut it in the spring. I have a an oak tree and a poplar that need to come down too. If I can get my neighbor to let me have a huge (I can't get my arms around it and I am 6' 1") white oak tree, I should have enough to make it worth a sawyers time and my money.

 

[TexasTimbers]

Nothing wrong with cutting a smaller one in the spring, but on the bigger ones I like cutting in the winter. This is a big one. 28" at knee height and 36+" at the knobby crotch. Hope it's black heart.