the 'todays job' thread

[Ian Flatters]

What's the difference between drop crotching and reduction?

I know, I know about 250 quid!

 

 

Not at all really. Reductions are normally the whole crown when drop crotching is mainly uprights. I think we charged pretty much exactly the same as we would of reducing the entire crown but with the declining crown tips, it was proposed to do this and leave as much healthy live growth but remove minimal amounts of weight in the scaffolds to reduce wind throw from lever arm.

 

Oh and whoever mention topping.. We used pruning points not internodal pruning. haha

[Rich Rule]

I was under the impression drop crotching was used to reduce the whole crown. Cutting back to a growth point that is one third of the retaining branch.

[MattyF]

I was under the impression drop crotching was used to reduce the whole crown. Cutting back to a growth point that is one third of the retaining branch.

 

 

Me to.

[Ian Flatters]

No, it could be used as part of a reduction, but I'd class that as a reduction. To me it's a lot heavier more like some of the stuff I've seen on tony crofts thread.

[atree]

Ive never understood it,Its just a heavy reduction to me

[Ian Flatters]

I was under the impression drop crotching was used to reduce the whole crown. Cutting back to a growth point that is one third of the retaining branch.

 

Thinking about it rich, that description would be natural target pruning or shigo cuts. Drop crotching could also be called restoration cuts to shift in the auxin/cytokinin balance.thus creating new leaders that would allow the side branches to be reduced if required and a more squat crowned tree to become established.

[MattyF]

Now I'm confused , cutting back to an inside branch the third of the size whilst doing a reduction is not drop crutching? I've always called it drop crutching.

You can drop crutch a 2" branch to a 2ft or two meter limb it's still dropping out the leading branch to the next Union.

Edited December 4, 2014 by MattyF

[Ian Flatters]

Now I'm confused , cutting back to an inside branch the third of the size whilst doing a reduction is not drop crutching? I've always called it drop crutching.

 

Natural target pruning is what ive always called that. Shigo told me in his books.

 

Joking aside, in essence its pretty close and probably grammatically the same thing. Ive always been told drop crothcing is uprights to remove weight of the declining crown or reduce the tops of fruit trees. It will be interesting to monitor over the next few years as its right by a footpath i drive past regularly .

[essential]

Tree Work Terminology

[Ian Flatters]

Tree Work Terminology

 

Sorry im fresh out of medals over this one. But its great to know that lopping and topping are still legislation. :001_tt2: