How would YOU prune this Sycamore?

[Lancstree]

I've been asked to give this Sycamore some attention and got the usual "how much height do you think needs to come off it?". I explained the negative effects of topping and managed to convince them that it was better to thin. They still wanted some of the crown size managed so I said I would do a sensitive crown reduction, bearing in mind that Sycamore are not great to crown reduce. The tree is a fair size and I know its difficult to tell from one picture but that's all I managed to get. I'm sure they will be happy with the work I intend to do but I am interested in what other people would do or not do with such a tree. It looks to have been topped previously and it is in the rear garden of a small bungalow.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

reduce it by 2-3 metres all round, dont thin out internal.

 

any less will not give them value for money, nor be enough to prevent a return visit in 1-2 years

[Neil Frost]

Fell and plant something nicer!

 

Sounds like you've got the right answer though, reduce a bit. Hope all goes well.

Edited March 1, 2011 by Neil Frost
Spelling

[Tom2020]

Big cob at the bottom and a nice flat cut at the back

[testcricket01]

id say fell and replant looks awful, failing that re pollard. i wouldnt try and polish a turd and fiddle about reducing it a little bit

[armchairarborist]

lamp post it back to previous cut height, bosh and let it grow back uniform all round.. like a big pompom

[Pat Ferrett]

lamp post it back to previous cut height, bosh and let it grow back uniform all round.. like a big pompom

 

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

bet now you wish you hadnt asked and are now as confused as when you started! lol

 

fell and replant is a sensible answer, but that wasnt the option from the start was it?

[Lancstree]

Yeah, they want a big tree in their back garden but don't want shade - the usual conflict of interests. Why not thin out a bit Hama? 2-3m reduction on this seems a lot. There are some pretty poor branch unions and I'm going to raise some bits that are overhanging the neighboring gardens

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

the lower stuff is valuable screening here, as is the internal scaffold, a reduction of 2-3 metres will let light pour in all round, reduce will lessen leverages from the pollard unions (not an issue from what i can see less colonised by polyporus squrosus)