cutting back of a large branch to the trunk

[Dilz]

so having a disscusion with a fellow tree head about a mature ash tree thats having some work done - a large limb needs removing - now if it is taken back to the trunk the wound diameter would be around 1m.

 

A normal reduction of the branch tips wont remove the hazard.

 

What we have been talking about is - is it better to cut the branch back to some epicormic growth about 6m from the trunk, that looks to be about 5 years old or take it back to the the stem.

 

My personal view having looked at the tree is that this is preferable to leaving such a large wound on the trunk - and then go back to the tree in a few years to thin out the regrowth where the cut has been made.

 

Making such a large wound on the main stem in my view is just inviting decay to start forming in the main main stem.

 

My mates view is 'well that isn't how your supposed to do it and is opting for taking the branch back to the main stem'

 

Be interested to hear some different views on this.

[Steve Bullman]

I agree with you. It would look ugly, but would be less likely to encourage decay into the main trunk. There's textbook ways to make cuts, but people need to realize that text book rules aren't always the answer for every scenario though.

[Stubby]

I wuld have thought that as long as you leave the collar to " doughnut " over it will heal as in any limb removal ...given enough time .

[treequip]

Take it back to the stem, you get more fire wood that way:laugh1:

[Paul Barton]

I agree with you. It would look ugly, but would be less likely to encourage decay into the main trunk. There's textbook ways to make cuts, but people need to realize that text book rules aren't always the answer for every scenario though.

 

Agreed.

[Paul Barton]

A one metre diameter branch is HUGE! What's the diameter of the trunk?

 

Would it be possible to shorten the branch less drastically and install a brace to help reduce the likelihood of its failure?

[arboriculturist]

so having a disscusion with a fellow tree head about a mature ash tree thats having some work done - a large limb needs removing - now if it is taken back to the trunk the wound diameter would be around 1m.

 

A normal reduction of the branch tips wont remove the hazard.

 

What we have been talking about is - is it better to cut the branch back to some epicormic growth about 6m from the trunk, that looks to be about 5 years old or take it back to the the stem.

 

My personal view having looked at the tree is that this is preferable to leaving such a large wound on the trunk - and then go back to the tree in a few years to thin out the regrowth where the cut has been made.

 

Making such a large wound on the main stem in my view is just inviting decay to start forming in the main main stem.

 

My mates view is 'well that isn't how your supposed to do it and is opting for taking the branch back to the main stem'

 

Be interested to hear some different views on this.

 

Generally NEVER create a wound of that size especially with Ash.

 

In an ideal world you would leave a strong growing point 1/3 the diameter of the parent branch that you are shortening, however most accept 1/4.

 

Failing this, you risk the chance of the branch shutting down and then dying back.

 

Prune to what you have at 6m and if the limb dies at least it will give the tree time to produce an internal reaction zone which will prevent decay/pathogens entering the main stem.

 

Good luck.

[David Humphries]

I wuld have thought that as long as you leave the collar to " doughnut " over it will heal as in any limb removal ...given enough time .

 

I think I get what you mean, but it should be said that trees don't 'heal' themselves. What they do is compartmentalise the wound/decay by barriers. So a large diameter branch like the one mentioned above may occlude the cut eventually but this will depend on the cut in relation to the branch collar and the vitality of the tree.

 

 

 

.

[Darrin Turnbull]

so having a disscusion with a fellow tree head about a mature ash tree thats having some work done - a large limb needs removing - now if it is taken back to the trunk the wound diameter would be around 1m.

 

 

 

A normal reduction of the branch tips wont remove the hazard.

 

 

 

What we have been talking about is - is it better to cut the branch back to some epicormic growth about 6m from the trunk, that looks to be about 5 years old or take it back to the the stem.

 

 

 

My personal view having looked at the tree is that this is preferable to leaving such a large wound on the trunk - and then go back to the tree in a few years to thin out the regrowth where the cut has been made.

 

 

 

Making such a large wound on the main stem in my view is just inviting decay to start forming in the main main stem.

 

 

 

My mates view is 'well that isn't how your supposed to do it and is opting for taking the branch back to the main stem'

 

 

 

Be interested to hear some different views on this.

 

 

I agree with you.

[Chris at eden]

It would take a very long time to occlude a wound of that size and once it has the position may be worse. Jeremy Barrell has been writing some interesting articles about summer branch drop and how it may be linked to large occluded wounds. You often get decay develop unseen once occluded. I did an aerial inspection of a mature oak last summer which had a tiny hole in the centre of a wound wood doughnut. When I checked with a cane it went in over a metre before my probe ran out.

 

Another consideration with removing a limb of that size is the effect it may have on the way that the tree deals with wind loading through mass damping. It must be a sizable branch so its removal must alter the way the remaining parts move. If they aren't optimised to deal with this you may get secondary failures. Additional pruning may therefore be required.