treeseer

I agree. Is it hybridizing or is it an exotic invader; I tend to think the former. I was quoting a post.

"Phytophthora related issues" Can this be verified as "invasive"? It's the changing soil chemistry at the heart of problems with Phytophthora species, which have always been extant in the soil.

" doing a combination of fracture pruning (ripping growth points off) and conventional pruning to see which works best and go from there." It'd be interesting to know what is meant by "conventional pruning". Here in the US there is some general agreement on what that means, but the devil, and the disagreements, are in the details. Our ANSI Standards switched from "cut back to a branch >1/3 the size" to "cut <25% at a time", but people still swear by the '1/3 Rule". Also, there's not been much evidence that fracture vs. nodal pruning is of benefit to tree structure in most cases. Nothing from Burnham Beeches shows a reason to start fracturing. Unless I missed some pictures or accounts? For accounts of nodal pruning that is considered unconventional, see the last UK issue of Arbor Age magazine, Mike O'Ryza and the Vexing View.

Job done then; you've got your epitaph ready! thanks; I'll look into the thread if i want to see different modes of action on different species. Most of the urban oaks with I.d. here are Q. phellos, pointy leaves.

Very true--wildlife is a valid goal that in many cases can be met, along with enhanced stability. Cables and braces can preserve a lot of habitat. and you're right, it takes waaay too long to make a veteran; gotta keep what few there is left.

Agreed--ANSI is also clear that other details needed--not a book mind you just numbers. Size of cut is the most important imo. Looks like a lot off that one on the right, but it depends on the objective. How will it look in the summer? The best measure of how much is too much is the tree's response--panic sprouting, or stable regrowth?

" its gone too far, im not asking what do you think, but what do you think? its been in the news." How far is too far to manage by reduction? re I.d., it's considered one of the big bad 3 here in the US. The tough part is, the established way to measure root rot is to drill the root, which makes it weaker. How do you all assess the rot and prescribe the % pruning? Nice job by D. Dowson on that writeup.

Lonnng ears there--what to do?

Not hard, but impossible. Posting pics here is easy when you get the hang of it.

Ah here I think you hit on the question, but I'm not sure this is contrary to darwinianism or the scientific method, properly applied. right to say that we are best served when we pull back and suspend judgment and view things not in black and white. Painting mental pictures with all the colors of the wind, as Pocahontas put it (that'll gag the old-agers!) This is a tenet of Objectivism, btw, as some define it. Miss Rand's version, more than Mr. Polanyi's, I suspect.

That's funny--I'm 61 and feel like a panda sometimes, but still get as high and as wide in a tree as the job requires!

Obvious that a youngster drew up this poll--50+ the last category? I'm 60 + 2 in october, still climb regularly. I'll quit when they pry that cold hard carabiner from my rigor mortis grip!

"What is important is that you can defend your contentions with sound reasoning. After having been through my fair share of appeals (as tree officer and as consultant), I always approach my decision-making with the thought of what a potentially aggressive solicitor or pendantic planning inspector might ask, and how I would justify my reasoning." Yes exactly that, opinions need to be defendable (or defensible ) Write it and cite it and move on; too often this is sweated over way too much. " [reporting verb] tell or order someone to do something, especially in a formal or official way:From the Oxford English Dictionary" That was my point; perhaps a pedantic or semantic one, but imo arb consultants are best used when they have more autonomy. Otherwise it can be a case of the blind leading the sighted, and that can lead to bad places. :thumb down: The "constraints plan" is part of the survey/inventory here; not a bad idea to separate that out, for some jobs. Sounds like it could be overkill for others; I can understand a client getting a bit impatient with the process.

How about UNclear guidance in the BS?? There is clear guidance on needed variance for species and condition in ANSI A300; sorreee...

Clients instruct? Must be a different meaning in the UK; I have not been instructed since elementary school (and it shows). I rather like Steve's approach: "Personally I am very blunt with my clients and tell them how it is going to be rather than what they want it to be" They hired us for our judgment, after all. Will more objectivity be compulsory; still wrapping my head around that one...

By "this one" you mean in Gerrit's picture? Same answer anyway; as before, it depends on the owner's objective. That one seems to be in a place where it is allowed to fall, laissez faire, tres facile. If there were bats in it and the owner wanted to retain habitat, this ANSI A300 person might install a brace, or guys, or tethers, or prune to reduce. Not sure what an ISA person is, or what one would do; as before, it depends on the owner's objective, and on the arboperson. 6.1: "Pruning objectives shall be established prior to beginning any pruning operation." BS has similar wording I hope, lest we all fly blind.

Now, gents, you both know about pruning and support options for urban trees. For the rural trees, nature is more left to take its course. Mitigation is determined by objectives; it depends. And if you are spoiling for a spat based on hypothetical situations, no thanks, no time to take on the tag-team!

Fiskars and WolfGarten both good. Pole pruners essential for a good job on most trees I find.

Gerrit, no such hypothesis was offered. Not enough evidence to go on, because the infection has not been examined. Not with hand lens, or the mighty microscope, or even the unaided eye. Why not remove the dead material and LOOK? Is "barrier" some sort of red flag? If so is there a politically correct synonym, to avoid traipsing in a minefield??

True, risk can increase, depending on the activity of the fungus and the tree. And there are several ways to mitigate that risk.

Yes I think that's accurate. Fungus lessens weight in the crown = less loading = less risk, if the decay pattern allows columns of sound wood to remain. This does not seem to prove the notion that the tree is dependent on the fungus, but it does prove they can coexist in a fairly sustainable fashion, and it calls the term "pathogen" into question.

"blimey are we going for a record of most times the term red listers can be used in a day guy!:lol:" If those species are so critically important to arb then twice in a day is too few! "Im teasing, whats the score for such a term in the oooo rhaaaa state" have not been in that state since I had too much bourbon one night and forget what it was!

There is a lot swirling in that vortex, so you never know...could also be that nameless arb was *lessening* habitat for beings in nothingness by lessening the hollowing that would have sped, had it been a "collar cut". Of course the stub itself is now habitat; an inventory of it might show that it teems with red-listers!

Paul, it depends on the demands. Mainly I had in mind the biological/hydraulic demands, hence the caveat and caution. 9% max. live crown off is a common spec, and I have written 4% too. Reduction is more often targeted to improve symmetry/balance/alignment with structural roots than overall. Crown cleaning is typically done in advance as well.

It's yourself that may need backing up here! "often these bleeds come at an early stage and one may have to wait for mycelial sheets to form and voids in the bark before rhizos. Much less bleeds wil be evident by that stage." So then there is no proof of the armillaria hypothesis? "without breaking barriers"? STOP IT! Get your hands on the tree and look inside. START IT! Bleeding lesions can be caused by many pathogens. Without evidence, the Arm hypothesis carries little weight; it hasn't a Leg to stand on arararar.