guide for pruning mature trees??? Would you agree with the info?

[bigpants]

Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council in Staffordshire is currently investigating the illegal pruning of a number of mature trees. A number of factors must be considered when pruning mature trees. Pruning Mature Trees — Tree Contractors Directory

[sloth]

Generally yes. And seems to take account of the latest 3998, with regards to highlighting time of year, energy reserves etc.

[treeseer]

Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council in Staffordshire is currently investigating the illegal pruning of a number of mature trees. A number of factors must be considered when pruning mature trees.

 

Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council in Staffordshire is currently investigating the illegal pruning of a number of mature trees. A number of factors must be considered when pruning mature trees. These include the site; time of year; and the species, size, growth habit, vitality, and maturity of the tree when applying for consent from the Local Planning Authority. The amount of live tissue that should be removed depends on the tree size, species, and age, as well as the pruning objectives. Younger trees tolerate the removal of a higher percentage of living tissue than mature trees. As a general rule, mature trees are less tolerant of severe pruning than juvenile trees. Also, smaller cuts close faster and are more easily compartmentalized than large cuts.

Large, mature trees should require little routine pruning. A widely accepted rule of thumb is never to remove more than 25% of a tree’s leaf-bearing canopy. In a mature tree, pruning even that much could have negative effects if removed in one season. Removing even a single, large-diameter limb can create a wound that the tree may not be able to close. The older and larger a tree becomes, the less energy it has in reserve to close wounds and defend against decay or insect attack.

 

True, but now Council leaps from describing proper pruning of mature trees to proper structural/formative pruning of young trees.. However, there is no transition to clue the reader of the topic switch. The below is NOT agreeable info for mature trees:

 

The correct pruning procedure is to select and establish scaffold branches. These branches should be selected for good attachment, appropriate size, and spacing in relation to other branches. Scaffold branches should be well spaced, both vertically and radially on the trunk. Vertical spacing should be at least 18 inches for large-growing trees, and about 12 inches for smaller trees. Pruning cuts should be correctly undertaken at the branch collar or shoulder and all work must comply with BS3998. TPO consent should be obtained from the council prior to the work being undertaken.

 

"Pruning cuts should be correctly undertaken at the branch collar or shoulder"

 

This sentence is inaccurate for mature trees, or even for young trees, which often benefit form having branches reduced and retained for a time as temporary elements in a young tree's structure.

 

Whether describing young trees or old, pruning cuts can also be correctly undertaken at any node where sufficient resources such as phenols, and anatomical structures such as compacted xylem, can compartmentalize the pruning wound. This includes reducing to small laterals or even to buds that stay behind when a branch is shed.

 

"Removal cuts are always better than reduction cuts" is a Goebbelsian lie that needs to die. If pruning is deemed "illegal" based on this sentence alone, that will not hold up in court. If counsel is competent, that law will be exposed as an ass. It's unfortunate that that final paragraph was added. Different standards should be written for different stages of a tree's development, and also for different architectural forms of trees.

 

Just one opinion. Others?

Edited September 7, 2011 by treeseer

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I would like to see the encouragment of additional works as alternatives, say soil remidiation to increas vitality before a proposed reduction when the trees situation is less than favourable (urban)

 

We should all be thinking like farmers, and tuning in to the natural rythums of nature. its not best practice to prune in spring, so what can we do for two months?

 

get the mulch and airspade out!

 

simples

 

arboriculture is changing, question is, will YOU

[RobArb]

It'll be a long long time before some of the LA's change their ways IMO.

 

Sent from Rob's GalaxySII