Future Of North Canton's United States Champion Big Tree In Question

Arborists Concerned About Health
Of Cucumber Magnolia

The health, and long-term future, of America’s tallest cucumbertree magnolia has been called into question. The tree is located in the Auburn Knolls sub-division in North Canton.

The tree, estimated to be in excess of 400-years-old, stands about eight stories tall. The circumference is 288 inches; enough that it takes six or seven adults holding hands to encircle the tree.

“I think it’s pretty unique that it’s survived the development that’s gone on around it,” said Jeff Wernet, a (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist. “It’s a strange situation because it’s a national champion; that in and of itself makes it uncommon because it’s one of a kind.”

Wernet, a Sales Representative with Davey Tree, has climbed the tree twice to examine it; the first time in 1991 or 1992.

“Since then I’d estimate the tree has lost about 50% of its canopy from large sections braking
away from decayed areas,’ said Wernet.

International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Dick Drake examined the tree four times last year; the last time being in December.

“For its age, it was in fair health when I first examined it,” said Drake. “The last time I examined it, from what I saw, I believe it’s getting weaker at the top.”

Drake did a test on the tree called sounding. Hitting it with a two-pound hammer and listening to the sound that was emitted enabled him to draw conclusion about the health of the cucumbertree.

“When you get a sound back that sounds like a drum sound you know the tree is hollow. That’s what I heard,” said Drake.

Drake said, “The tree has heart rot which is like cancer of the bones to people.”

He pointed out a second problem.

“It also has a critter hold in the bottom (of the trunk),” Drake said. “You can tick a probe through the tree at the back to the fall wall.”

Neither of the certified arborists believes the tree is in imminent danger, but they are both concerned about its future.

“I don’t think the tree is in danger of dying soon,” said Wernet. “What’s likely to happen is, with the limbs being so long and heavy, that it’s likely to continue the trend of losing large portions of the canopy as it has been doing over the last 15 to 16 years.

Drake said, “I don’t see any way for that tree to go over as of the last inspection because it doesn’t have any fractures in the trunk or base of the tree.”

He added a proviso saying, “The tree’s on borrowed time. Without close inspection the tree could become a liability very quickly.”

Drake offered a possible solution which Wernet characterized as a sound idea in theory.

“The only solution I’ve been able to come up with, to hopefully preserve the tree and prolong its life, is to put a band around the tree, like a whiskey barrel,” said Drake. “That would bind the tree together at the top. I believe we should do that because the crown of the tree was lost and there’s extensive decay from the top down.”

Wernet said, “In theory, from the physics and structure standpoint, it would be a sound idea, but, I’m not sure how practical it would be to apply to the tree because of irregularities in the
shape of the trunk.”

Another, albeit not optimum, solution was offered by Wernet.

“From the standpoint of trying to alleviate the problem with the size and weight of the limbs, it’s not the ideal way of how you want to prune a tree, but some degree of crown reduction would reduce the chances of the tree losing large portions again,” Wernet said.

“You come to a point with certain trees that you may want to do that to try and prolong the life of the tree.”

The two agree that something should be done to preserve America’s tallest cucumbertree magnolia.

“This is a historically significant tree, in Ohio and the United States,” said Drake. “It’s possibly the biggest tree in the world of this species. We want to save it.”

Wernet said if the residents of Auburn Knolls give the go ahead he would climb the tree to do an inspection.