What would you recommend:

[benedmonds]

I am interested in others opinions.

 

I undertook a climbing inspection and made some recomendations that differ from the LPA's tree officer..

 

What would you recommend:

 

17m tall Horse Chestnut

 

The tree foliage was of good colour and density and the tree appears to be growing well, with plenty of new shoot growth.

 

Previous tree works have left numerous (over 10) major wounds (15cm x 15cm) throughout the tree. The tree has been "reduced" twice in the past, in 1991 and 2002. Horse Chestnuts contain a core of largely unresponsive and non-durable wood (Lonsdale, 2001). Many of the wounds therefore have cavities, some extending up to 15cm into the trunk/branch.

 

Re-growth from the previous topping cuts has led to growth of numerous branches with weak attachments. In addition the topped branches are decaying down behind the attachment points of the re-growth increasing the likelihood of failure.

 

There is major (over 75mm) dead wood though out the crown.

 

A root on the south side of the tree shows cambial die back with flaking bark and several cracks in the bark running up the trunk to 2m.

 

There are several areas of sooty black exudates on the trunk and scaffold branches. This is likely to be the early stages of bleeding canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae . Understanding about this disease is limited at present and this makes it difficult to make precise recommendations about the management of the disease and affected trees. Unless there is an immediate concern about safety, trees with light to moderate bleeding and vigorous crowns can be left in place and monitored. Recovery may be possible and removal of trees which are still relatively vigorous (although diseased) may be premature (Forest Research - forestry and tree related research. 2009).

 

A Tree Hazard Rating of 9 was assigned to the tree (from a maximum value of 12 with 12 representing a significant threat). Ratings have only relative meaning but the rating indicates that some management must occur to ensure the tree is safe.

[Dean O]

Hi.... IMO recutting to repollard isnt realy an option as its only going to compound the problems now found, and the onset of bleeding canker may be its death nell anyways. Unfortunately removal and replacement may be the best option long term.

a compromise??: reduce to sound wood in order to retain the tree in some form - asuming that the client is now educated of the problems the tree faces and is likely to manage it in the future?

 

looks from the pic that its close to targets so some mediation needs to take place.

 

my tuppence

[gibbon]

Without seeing the tree I can only guess, but I suspect that I would just moniter and re-inspect next year at this stage

[gmanntpo]

I agree with Dean O

 

SULE is very limited by the sounds of it. Using the principles of silviculture in the urban forest I go with fell and replace...

 

Cheers!