treeseer

If possible use the bucket to amend the entire area; make one big bed! http://www.hort.cornell.edu/uhi/outreach/pdfs/scoop-and-dump-short.pdf

Looking at the last image; more like a pole at the base than a flare...has fill dirt been added?

How recent is the landscaping work on the front side? I suspect an abiotic problem.

I agree--the results would have been very interesting. But when foresters call the wrong tune, the harvest is the only dance there is.

Not sure pruning is necessary or helpful.. DEFinitely leave all growth near the wound--it will nourish its closure.

krummholz, I believe the last pic shown is 5 years on. Not speedy callusing, but callusing nonetheless. If there has been no subsequent bleeding then it's a success in my book. For the record; the study on walnuts was really brutal--hatchet to "trim" the lesions, and torching until the wood charred. http://ceglenn.ucanr.edu/files/185675.pdf I use a gentler scraping tool, and stop if the tissue resists, even if it's visibly infected. the drying from the heat allows infected tissue to compartmentalize more often than not. So the wound is much smaller. Also, after scraping I favor a rinse with hydrogen peroxide. Sometimes this adequately dries the tissue without heating. Tho I've heard great concerns about torching doing damage, in reality this has not been observed, to my knowledge. "Funny" not haha that after David's video, youtube shows a big HC being felled....if only they had blowtorched instead! This technique desparately needs trialing on any bleeding disease--it works on Armillaria, Phytophthora,....Citizen scientists arise--you have nothing to save but your trees!

Where is the damage?

A classic case of confusing, or at least conflating, correlation and causation. Also when 'natural bracing' is defined as everything from grafting, inoculation, constant contact, or occasional contact, the theory gets a little fuzzy to my eyes. But I do enjoy having those eyes guided to these tree phenomena.

Scrape off the dead stuff and look for the tree response. Doubtful the goo has structural implications, but you don't know until you look.

Joining AA is a great idea for many reasons. Here's a look at tree risk assessment that gives trees a chance. ISA CEU Risk.pdf

"Sod the lawn" that was an attempt at a cross-cultural joke.

Huge girdling root likely played a part in both tree response and vitality.

Depends on your objective. Pollarding would make denser shade in a smaller area--maybe not good for lawn? Thinning would make lighter shade in a larger area. Personally I'd consider letting it grow to full-fullish size. Sod the lawn; what's more valuable?

Up against a wall to trap heat can add a zone or two in that microclimate. Pleaching refers to 2- or 3-dimensional (and often involves branches grafting); espaliering is 2; both defined as types of topiary, in some texts.

Pines also get frothy flux.

The larger roots on the lower side of the image take a turn after the second ring. I wonder why? That white area looks ripe for inspecting, and improving, soil conditions. I'll be asking Santa for that kit.

Is it best to leave it and inspect it every year (and if needed) a reduction to take some weight off the limbs. Right on both counts!

I'd suggest monitoring for signs of cracking that is perpendicular to those seams, and reduce only per need. That is a really odd pattern; I have no better theory than lightning.

I'll be in Edinburgh Scotland Sep 18-19. Where is the best place to see veteran trees well managed?

6 kg may seem big, but I've weighed over 15 kg of fungus taken from white oaks twice before. Bodnarziewia berkeleyii; not sure that's in the UK. And both trees btw are being reduced and managed, for over 10 years now.

Cherry/hawthorn good for fungistatic properties. If the objective is good establishment of the walnut, then myco/soil from a walnut would be ideal.

Taos is nice; I live in Santa Fe part time and have camped in the Jemez for a week at a time at retreats with the 3HO Sikh folks. I'll try taking my MS160 up more often and see how it works. The forestry scenario and the bunches of dead cedar limbs seem different than an occasional cut in the crown of an oak. Plus I'm blessed with strong elbows I guess. Different strokes for different climbing folks, and so on and so on and shoobeedoobeedoobee (Sly Stone)

Well look what that started! It's dicey to defend the US these days with Cheeto in charge. Points well taken about profiteering and warmongering And when I see the tree Reg did I am sure it will look well done. Very small differences in opinion being hashed out; I probably overreacted to what I saw. But by 'myth' I'm not saying it's untrue; myths have truth at the core but are exaggerated.

And lovers gonna love. I've been to and worked in many countries, so the yank bashing does not stick. Why do Brits hate on Americans so? The war ended 240 years ago after all. I can pull out a handsaw a lot faster than you can pull out a chainsaw. Plus I do not have to drag around the dam thing. Sure let's race--but it would be more fair if we allowed 1 second handicap for every year difference in age! lol Plus if polesaw use is allowed it would be no contest. But it's not quantity but quality that matters anyway. Smaller cuts are better for the tree.

Sounds good; would love to climb with you someday. We could explore that country/culture myth, and the handsaw "when needed" myth as well, when we have time.