Could you thin the tree? It is so important to our/your environment. I don't want you to feel bad - but I don't think I could take a tree down - now maybe if it weren't an oak. Tell me if it is a native oak....if it's not I think I could change my mind....LOL

I had probably 25 old and huge oaks on my property when I moved here in '07. Also there were some young, clearly "store bought" oaks planted in a stupid area.
I cut the young ones down without remorse.
I have also had to have two old oaks taken out because they were dead and I still mourned each one of them like an old friend.

So yes I could remove a young one but would need medication to just cut down a healthy old one.

Makes no sense, I know.

Cearbhaill,

What you are saying makes total sense to me. I moved to Nova Scotia in 2007 to an old farmstead with a lot of trees and I honestly didn't know one tree from another except some were big, some were small. I have since learned that some are really worth trying to preserve and some simply aren't. AND, if one is about to fall on your house in a bad storm, well it's got to go, and to weep is appropriate.

roni, if you're still out there, curious what you decided?

Not sure what grows under oaks, but many plants love shade, and an oak will blanket the ground with mulch (falling leaves), so as long as the roots are plant friendly, might be ok to keep it.

I had a beautiful shade garden on one side of my house. THEN came the dreaded day the house sold, and the new neighbor took out the tree and ruined my eco-system!

Good luck whatever you decide! We took out some huge Eucalyptus trees threatening our house during high winds. Had to hire a company to do it.