Afag guides/toilet paper, whats the difference?

[RobRainford]

These trees were in a school field. I could see the lime carrying on without hitch. Justba few battle scars. There may be a chance to trace back to the company who did the work.

 

Steve you are right. I don't know the facts. But a few trees on the same field had similar works. But I only had a closer look at these two as I had a few spare minutes and wanted to have a gander.

 

I know there is sweet FA that we can do about things like this. Best practice and getting the professionals in to do a proper job are things people don't take into consideration as much as they used to IMO

[Mesterh]

Tbh even if earmarked for a fell they dont even warrant the time it takes to buckle up a set of spikes.

 

 

They prob got a spec to deadwood and crown lift, looked at the state of the tree and thought a few spike wounds wouldnt even make a difference.

 

Still no excuse though.

[bob]

what,s this got to do with afags and toilet paper

 

whats the problem with a few spike marks compared to all those prunning cuts you all do

how many truly always prune with care on every cut

[Johny Walker]

well i do bob:001_smile:coz ima pro

[RobRainford]

I certainly do as good as I can without taking all day to do one.

 

As much as a pruning cut is a wound, it's meant to be a less harmful wound than a few spikes up and down the tree

 

The afag/bog roll reference was because it seems like who did the work didn't know best practice. So the afag guides may aswell have been toilet roll!

[skyhuck]

When working on trees that have been previously pruned 10 or more years ago, I very often find sealed over spike marks, 99% of them seem to have suffered no ill effects.

[skyhuck]

As much as a pruning cut is a wound, it's meant to be a less harmful wound than a few spikes up and down the tree

 

 

Says who???

[Lorry thompson]

I've always wondered this myself, I stick to the rules and only use spikes on fells but can't see them doin much damage. I know they make a vector for disease to get in but what about the big pruning cuts aare spike marks so much worse?

[RobRainford]

Says who???

 

Its not a definite point made by someone, its the way i see it from reading about it and doing it too.

 

dont quote me on this, but from my very limited time in this industry, after reading what shigo has said about pruning cuts and looking at different diagrams, the cuts are aimed to provide the smallest surface area for the tree to occlude and also to use CODIT to wall off the decaying branch material.

 

In a way its creating one wound as oppose to lots and lots of small wounds through the cambium

[Andy Collins]

[quote=RobRainford;3

In a way its creating one wound as oppose to lots and lots of small wounds through the cambium

 

So what about a small reduction in size of the tree? many many pruning cuts not exceeding 100mm over the entire crown of the tree? Surely a few small nicks from spikes wont cause that much stress to the tree (not that I condone the use of spikes in prunes) Given a choice, the tree would have nothing removed at all.

Do you know in the case shown that an emergency rescue had not taken place, and spikes were worn in this event (see Afag 402 section 13, use of specialised climbing equipment)