General Tree pics

[Peter]

Why ruin such a nice tree? That is just wack, yo.

 

You're NOT SUPPOSED to do that to trees, don't ya'll know?

 

British "arborculture" is sure different that American. I wonder who's doing the right thing?

 

On your side of the pond that tree would have been firewood a long time ago!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Why ruin such a nice tree? That is just wack, yo.

 

You're NOT SUPPOSED to do that to trees, don't ya'll know?

 

 

I hold the same opinion Butch, I would hope it is not representative of the British way of doing things, but there's many different train of thoughts on the subject.

 

I have carried out "light" reductions sticking to branches of 2" or so and taking back to a suitable pruning point. I was taught to take back to a side shoot which was a minimum of a 1/4 the diameter of the branch being cut.

 

I noticed an Ash being done near me last year. The reduction looked good, really good work, proper pruning cuts the lot. But ow looking at the tree, there is a mass of new growth, epicormic on the branch and cut ends though, so now it doesn't look right. It looks awful

 

Obviously too much had been taken away.

 

Reducing a tree to the extent that the one above has been done must have a valid reason for it, ie to extend the life of the tree rather than taking it down. But to do it to a perfectly healthy tree for no other reason than it's too big, should cause a few raised eyebrows.

[Rowan the Bruce]

Unfortunately, my idea of gradual yearly reductions was dismissed by my boss due to the severity of the stress fracture.As you can see the upper crown had become somewhat leggy, therefore not possible to prune back to my preferred 1/3 diameter stem width.

I will say that to get the correct shape did take a bit of effort and I know that it will suffer for a couple of years and turn into a fuzz ball of epicormics,but if I return in 10-15 years and see a standing tree with good shape then I will a bit happier.

[Rowan the Bruce]

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4900&stc=1&d=1215270003

[MasterBlaster]

On your side of the pond that tree would have been firewood a long time ago!

 

What a well thought out, sensible response!

 

Rowan, I doubt very much topping the tree will help the crack in the trunk. And I'm sure if you asked the tree what IT wanted, it wouldn't say "Top me, mate." However, things could be worse... you coulda made coronet cuts, lol.

[Peter]

Why ruin such a nice tree? That is just wack, yo.

 

 

What a well thought out, sensible response!

 

Just replying in the same vein.

 

Care to suggest an alternative solution to retain the tree, US style?

[Rowan the Bruce]

Ha! ha! obviously you don't have storms like we do in Cornwall because if we liontailed everything like you guys we'd have plenty of work repairing hangers for the rest of the summer lol!

[RC0]

Rowan, were you following a spec for this work, if so how was it described i.e.pollard, crown reduction - % etc ?

[Rowan the Bruce]

40 per cent crown reduction

[RC0]

Was it a new a split or old one? Any pictures?