Veteran trees and pruning required

[andrew t]

I am just waiting to hear back from a job I priced there are lots of general pruning tasks hedge trimming felling general reductions . I can do most tree surgery related tasks but I am a little concerned with what is involved with the veteran trees on site so any help would be massively apreciated . The veteran trees are mainly Quercus robar .

[David Humphries]

What is the objective for the pruning on the Vets Andrew?

 

 

 

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[andrew t]

Hi David most of the oaks are next to the main track of the estate one has lost a large limb already there is also a lot of stag horn on one tree with the only strong lateral going over towards the rd and another tree has many brackets of ganoderma at base and is leaning toward the track .

[David Humphries]

Ah, fell them and replace with liquidamber then

 

 

Are the oaks maidens or lapsed pollards?

 

In terms of large lateral branches failing, remove enough end weight to alleviate the issue. Sometimes only a meter or two will have the desired effect (of course this depends on the reason for failure in the first place, type of decay, structural features etc...

 

Something to bear in mind is that on page 57 in BS 3998:2010

'Tree work Recommendations' there is Annex C - 'Crown management specialized practices' which recognises that Veterans will sometimes need more 'drastic' works than what is normally recommended and mentions crown retrenchment and pollarding.

 

 

Stag heading is the tree retrenching, if there is epicormic growth in the lower canopy then it may be healthy enough to maintain itself in this phase of its life.

In my experience stag headed deadwood can stay within the canopy for many years, so remove only the bits directly over target.

 

If there are trees with basal trunk/root decay issues, my advice would be get someone in to investigate further if required.

 

 

The David Lonsdale book on Ancients and other veterans is a very good resource for guidance.

 

Ancient and other veteran trees: further guidance on management | The Tree Council

 

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[Andrew Gale]

Another point to consider is the target; you say it's the track to the estate.

 

How many vehicles pass under these trees a day? Do they really need working on?

 

I'm not for one second suggesting that the track is moved, but if the risk of the sections failing and striking someone is low, could the act of doing nothing be justifiable?

 

Just a thought.

 

Andrew

[andrew t]

Cheers David I will ask my boss to get me that book . I'm keen as always to do only what's needed on the trees I work on there is a cedar on the estate that is near the house it's absolutely stunning if we get the job I will add pics and continue with this thread and what I have learnt . Cheers again

[andrew t]

Another point to consider is the target; you say it's the track to the estate.

 

How many vehicles pass under these trees a day? Do they really need working on?

 

I'm not for one second suggesting that the track is moved, but if the risk of the sections failing and striking someone is low, could the act of doing nothing be justifiable?

 

Just a thought.

 

Andrew

This is a possibility on some but on others I think with what I have learnt from body language of trees and various fungi books I will have to take action I'm defiantly on the side of doing only what is needed