Working in the upper most crown.

[Red.Squirrel]

I’d never be so bold to advise what size branch to attach you life-line to. If in doubt, use both ends of your life-line or your strop (or both).

 

Actually its best practice to use both ends anyway, regardless of branch strength or species. Get into the habit of stropping off whenever cutting too.

 

Thanks for the advice, I don't expect a solid yes/no, obviously it's best to judge each individual tree, just nice to have a guide.

 

I use my strop a lot, whenever I'm out on a limb or simply between cross-overs I leave my strop and main line both attached for as long as possible, slightly paranoid I guess but I am a noob. What exactly do you mean by using both ends? As in using the tail end as my strop instead of an independent one? Does that have any advantage to using a separate line? Noob questions I know, but better to ask than not.

[Mark Bolam]

This thread has become a bit too much.

 

Some great advice if you need to do a 10% reduction, but WHY on earth would you ever want to?

 

The tree won't thank you for it, and the client wouldn't see the difference.

 

Let's not start doing things like this to trees just to prove we can i.e. the lightest reduction competition that seems to emerge sometimes.

 

In nearly all cases, pruning is not good for a tree. Remember that.

[John Hancock]

If this makes no-sense at all its because I’ve just come home from the pub….

 

When I’m climbing I’ll put my rope up as high as I possible can as usual. I’ll probably come down a little and then put my other end of the rope up over another anchor point, (using poles) Tie a bowline in the end and re-attach using a prusik loop into my harness. My climbing instructor called it ‘triangulating’. Its very stable, feels secure and allows you to get into a good working position. Also has the added advantage of dispersing your load over two anchors, thus reducing the chance of failure.

 

Basic stuff I know, but does that make sense?

[Mesterh]

Thanks for the advice, I don't expect a solid yes/no, obviously it's best to judge each individual tree, just nice to have a guide.

 

I gave you a solid no.

 

If you manage to snap a 5-6 inch top out (healthy stem) then whatever you did to snap it will have probably killed you before you hit the floor.

 

 

10% reduction, well its far better than a 30% one and it prevents a tree reaching an unmanageable size ie formative pruning. Better than let it grow then hack it back imo.

[Mark Bolam]

It does make sense John, and I've never thought of doing it before.

 

Doesn't it bu**er up your option of a quick descent when things go wrong though?

 

I haven't been to the pub. Drinking indoors is the new going out. Hic.

[Mark Bolam]

I gave you a solid no.

 

If you manage to snap a 5-6 inch top out (healthy stem) then whatever you did to snap it will have probably killed you before you hit the floor.

 

 

10% reduction, well its far better than a 30% one and it prevents a tree reaching an unmanageable size ie formative pruning. Better than let it grow then hack it back imo.

 

Formative pruning accepted, most reductions on mature trees are not done for the benefit of the tree, are they?

 

IME they are done because Barratts have built some new houses too close to the tree.

 

I would favour a reduction rather than a fell, but that's only because it's a lesser of two evils thing. Unless it's a Leyland Cypress....

[John Hancock]

 

Doesn't it bu**er up your option of a quick descent when things go wrong though?

 

 

If I thought Like that I wouldn't be in this industry.

[Mesterh]

There's not an awful lot that we do that benefits trees imo.

 

Leylandii hmm yes had enough of them this week, kill the whole feckin lot...

 

Not the house builders(well sort of) more like the new owners/tenants who move in then think that tree is a bit to big/close for there liking!!!!!

 

Lost count of the jobs i have been to where a new tenant is moaning about a 100-200 year old tree in the back yard. FFS dont buy/rent the fooking house then.

[Mesterh]

If I thought Like that I wouldn't be in this industry.

 

Do you mean that you think you will never have an accident?

[Mark Bolam]

There's not an awful lot that we do that benefits trees imo.

 

Leylandii hmm yes had enough of them this week, kill the whole feckin lot...

 

Not the house builders(well sort of) more like the new owners/tenants who move in then think that tree is a bit to big/close for there liking!!!!!

 

Lost count of the jobs i have been to where a new tenant is moaning about a 100-200 year old tree in the back yard. FFS dont buy/rent the fooking house then.

 

Amen to that, brother!