Struggling with reductions

[Mike arb]

Hi everyone new to arbtalk I have been looking through some forums on here on reductions and can see some really high standards of work I'm just after a bit if advice I am finding it very hard to get an eye for reductions

[John Shutler]

How long have you been climbing?

Good reductions come with time IMO

[Mike arb]

I have been climbing a couple of years a lot of my work was mainly take downs but my company has won a few big contracts and a lot off the work is reductions I have done quite a few small trees and feel I have done ok but it's when I come to doing large trees.

[Jake Andrews]

Key to big reductions is thinking you know your limits,then push beyond them.youll learn a lot by just not cutting where you think 'that'll do'.but by making an effort too get too where you need to,I think this always gives best results.alot is psychological I reckon.as you do more it will become a lot easier.just stick with it and don't give up.

 

Jake:thumbup1:

[welwell]

How long have you been climbing?

Good reductions come with time IMO

 

Second that!

 

It takes years I think to get your eye in on reductions, be patient and persist, it will come.

[woody paul]

You will get there in the end. Look at what you leaving not what your taking, Have a good idear how the tree will look when finished before starting, and a have a good growndy.

[Peter]

I hate doing reductions, used to do them all the time as a subby, these days I get someone in to do them for me whenever possible.

 

If it is a proper reduction and not a reshape, then all you need to do is cut the same length off every branch, so the crown is exactly the same shape but say 2 metres smaller all over. Start at the top and work your way down so you don't snap all the little growth points you carefully left in place throwing cut branches down.

 

Lots of the reductions you see posted up here are really reshapes, which is a whole different ball game, you need to have a really good idea of what shape you want to end up with and how much to take off where to achieve it.

[Steve Bullman]

A few people are saying it takes time...I disagree. You either have an eye for shape or not. Some people can shape a tree from day 1, some will never be able to without significant guidance from a groundsman. I agree in some cases the skill can be developed over time, but in general i'd categorize most people into the first 2 brackets

[Andy Collins]

I really hate to say this.... But you're right Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

again

[benbound]

For me the key is getting the top right, as the gives you your line to work from all the way down. If you've got that right, then as you start reducing the rest of the canopy back, you often find yourself cutting back to similar sized growth points, as you reveal the tree within the tree.

The main thing is to believe what you are seeing, if it looks like a bit is sticking out whilst you're up the tree then it will definitely be sticking out when you get back on the ground.