To fracture prune, or................

[David Humphries]

So every healthy tree that has the potential of having people walk beside it needs to be topped?

 

That's a new one on me. Who invented that rule?

 

 

Butch, I refer you to the second sentence and the second picture.

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3483

 

 

This Tree is not a "normal healthy stable Tree"

 

 

 

.

[MasterBlaster]

Ahh, so THAT was the reason for topping.

[Marc]

I have another way of looking at it, that tree did'nt look like an ideal fracture tree, its not over mature it does'nt already have large tears, wounds, cavities or dead and its not in old age recline.

 

It simply looked like it had a flaw in its base and was still a young healthy Oak.

 

A more conventional prune would of maintained this trees aesthitic appeal and retained it as a valuble ammeniety tree, after all that Oak is probably 60 years old at least, a new replacement tree would of taken another 60 years to regrow so retention is a very good thing.

 

With constant monitoring that flaw could eventually turn into an intresting feature, i love trees with historic wounds and flaws after all nature isn't perfect.

 

As you have pointed out natural tears can give rise to increased vigour and density which could increase the sail area more rapidly, where as a conventional prune done well would not with the added benefit of looking more natural to the untrained dog walker.

 

Still its intresting to see other alternatives being used and i am very intrested to see how it responds.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I think the concept of potential return management, is not being considered here.

 

 

Wouldn't that be putting extra workload on your crews David.

 

I know the Kirklees boys are run ragged keeping up to general maintenance of Kirklees street trees without giving themselves the extra workload of "manufactured" routine maintenance ?

[David Humphries]

Wouldn't that be putting extra workload on your crews David.

 

I know the Kirklees boys are run ragged keeping up to general maintenance of Kirklees street trees without giving themselves the extra workload of "manufactured" routine maintenance ?

 

 

Possibly looking at expanding crew size in '09

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Possibly looking at expanding crew size in '09

 

 

 

I'd apply but,

 

A: I'm too old

B: You don't pay enough so would have to sell the Landcruiser

[David Humphries]

I'd apply but,

 

A: I'm too old

B: You don't pay enough so would have to sell the Landcruiser

 

 

I wouldn't let you anywhere near Nelly, with your track record

 

 

 

.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I wouldn't let you anywhere near Nelly, with your track record

 

 

Meeeeoww

 

That hurt david, I'm off to sulk now with my cup of Horlicks

[18 stoner]

Possibly looking at expanding crew size in '09

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

This was one of the reasons i was asking about your funding Dave. I was curious to know if these works are classed as general parks maintenance, or if they are special projects, with the acceptance they will need more care in the future? Guess that partly explains it.

 

I guess attitudes are very different locally to you Dave compared to the rest of the country, so selling this type of pruning to visitors and residents should be easier than say here in Yorkshire.

 

The way i see it, this is a relatively new technique, if not pioneering. Not all of us have the opportunity to try these practices and watch the results. You Dave, are in probably the best position for this, so go for it, and let us all learn from it.

[18 stoner]

I'd apply but,

 

A: I'm too old

B: You don't pay enough so would have to sell the Landcruiser

 

Ditto!

 

Trouble is, i would need to sell 2 land rovers, and that would never happen:001_tongue: