Managing previously topped oak trees?

[stevelucocq]

Hi,

 

Any advice on how to manage previously topped native oak trees (Don’t think these trees fit the description of a true pollard). There are many topped oak trees as shown below within a housing estate. The client wants to re-top this tree but I feel it could be left for another few years. Ideally I would not want to see this tree re-topped but interested to hear how others would manage such a tree?

 

No doubt when any work is carried to this tree the rest of the estate will be keen to follow.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Steve

[Nimby]

Are they not subject to a TPO? i.e. Nice mature Oak and new development. What a state they are in. Sorry I know that doesn't help. Possibly very light crown raise but would need to see them all.

[stevelucocq]

Yes the trees are TPOd.

[RobRainford]

Personally I would consider it as a 'normal' tree and manage the regrowth, taking away the poorly attached and smaller regrowth and then leave one or two main branches to rebuild the canopy over the coming years. Along with a thin of the lower crown to leave some resources for the tree to help rebuild it's upper canopy.

[treeseer]

Personally I would consider it as a 'normal' tree and manage the regrowth, taking away the poorly attached and smaller regrowth and then leave one or two main branches to rebuild the canopy over the coming years. Along with a thin of the lower crown to leave some resources for the tree to help rebuild it's upper canopy.

This seems reasonable, except that more than one or two branches are typically left per end. Gilman's restoration guideline is 1/3 off, 1/3 subordinated, 1/3 retained; a good starting point.

[treeseer]

The oak belo was "topped" by ice 6 years previous. The upper rioght branch was tiny then; the other five are adventitious/epicormics. You can see the smaller ones have been removed. Of the 6 remaining, 3 are subordinated.

 

This is the central leader in the 2nd attached.

[Nimby]

Wow great pic from above the union! I would speak to your local TO, if he's approachable, and see if he knows the trees.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The oak belo was "topped" by ice 6 years previous. The upper rioght branch was tiny then; the other five are adventitious/epicormics. You can see the smaller ones have been removed. Of the 6 remaining, 3 are subordinated.

 

This is the central leader in the 2nd attached.

 

sorry but that aint good reduction work.

[treeseer]

sorry but that aint good reduction work.

 

I agree. It is not any kind of reduction work. It is restoration work--the ice did the reducing.

 

Still, I would be glad to learn from any constructive input you may offer.