cutting back of a large branch to the trunk

[MattyF]

With you on that dilz , removing a limb of that diameter is a slow death sentence especially on ash , at least 6 meters out there its a good chance it may possibly keep the branch alive by throwing out a load more shoots that can be selectively kept or removed suiting conditions in the future.

[Mark Bolam]

You lot are backward.

 

Flush cut then fill the cavity with concrete.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[devon TWiG]

Then paint over it all with lac balsam !

[Stubby]

You lot are backward.

 

Flush cut then fill the cavity with concrete.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Them were the days !

[Mountain man]

With you on that dilz , removing a limb of that diameter is a slow death sentence especially on ash , at least 6 meters out there its a good chance it may possibly keep the branch alive by throwing out a load more shoots that can be selectively kept or removed suiting conditions in the future.

 

I agree, it'll look rank and will throw out a load of stuff but will be better for the tree, after all they don't know or care what they look like.

[Mark Bolam]

Good post.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Dilz]

Thanks for the replies. i talked to the owner about how removing such a large limb will effect the mass dampening when i first looked at the tree. Though i am aware of mass dampening all i can say is calculating exactly how the tree will be effected by removing this branch is for me little more than educated guess work.... However one thought is that by taking the branches back this will reduce alot of the torsional moment created, the remaining part will then allow some of the forces that are transmitted through the main stem from movement of the rest of the crown to dissipate along the long stubs.

The tree is also going to have some thinning and some light reduction work, Though this will be kept to a minimum on this visit to avoid stressing the tree too much and stop it from growing mad with epicormics.

The branch in my opinion is actually a bit of a mutant. It comes out of the main stem about 2 meters from the ground and bends up to about 30degrees. The actaul tree diameter is probably a touch over 1.5m at ground level. The concern is that if the tree fails in a high storm it will make a hell of a mess of the buildings and in the past a tree has failed and caused damage. I'll may end up doing a resistogrpah test on the tree, but it shows no obvious signs of internal decay, but it would put the customers mind at ease, and due to the size and age of the ash tree its not impossible that there is internal decay but its not showing any obvious external signs.

Thanks again folks!

[daltontrees]

Wow, at 1.5 metres diameter this tree would be officially classified as 'Ancient'. As such its chances of recovering from a big stem wound are somewhere between zero and zilch. I can hear the Inonotus hispidus banging its cutlery on the table already!

 

Take alittle off and revisit ina few years. It's a lot harder to put wood back on than take it off.

[Fredward]

My take on it is slightly different.

 

For starters if you are removing such are large limb from the tree I would imagine this would comprise more than 30% of the foliage, which is going to detrementally impact the tree anyway. Also if you cut back to a stub, even if it regrows with epicormics, it will not compartmentalise. The decay will be met with less resistance at a stub than at a collar due to a lack of barrier zones. The decay will engulf the stub and will have a higher chance of penetrating the barrier zones in the collar (admitedly at a much later date) because it will have gained momentum devouring the stub.

 

I think you shoud avoid removing the limb if there is an alternative, but by leaving the stub you are delaying the inevitable. Some pictures would be great, the tree sounds big!

[Mountain man]

Isn't delaying the inevitable exactly the point?