Gary Prentice

Scottie, Sorry I've been lax in replying your answer. I didn't know there was that much of an issue transplanting Beech, although I've never planted them at this size. What's the requirements for soil samples? Ie, how much, how many samples over the site, any particular depth the sample has to be taken from? As you can probably guess this is outside of my field of experience. Do the samples need to be fresh (Could they be posted?) Merry christmas, Gary

Terrific, thank you for posting, an interesting read with references for further research. So much to read and learn.

I recently read an application from an architect who ticked the no box, for an extension. Four mature trees a meter from the existing rear elavation. Then he told the client the trees could be removed. Just a little matter of a thirty year tpo.

Email planning for a search on the house next door and ask if there are any restraints on neighbouring properties.

When I worked for Halifax council we had a lane closure for a dead elm, fellow stopped in his car, blocking everyone behind and demanded to know what we were felling that tree. When informed we were council employees, he still demanded to know who gave us consent and why we were felling "that perfectly good tree" "It's dead!" he was told. "How do you know?" "Cos it's got no leaves on and it's summer, now move you're .......... car!!!" Patience only lasts so long.

What a terrific find, thanks for posting that:thumbup:

I'm sorry I didn't make myself clearer, but I was talking about amenity planting, the reference to Denmark was for the urban environment. Although I did choke on the idea of planting palms in Oldham. I can appreciate that our native trees have adapted over thousands of years to our climate, no argument there. They can and have adapted to minor changes such as wet spring periods. What they haven't adapted to is pathogens such as phytophthora, Venturia, pseudomonas syringa pv's and the like. Many of these newer threats originated in a different climate and seem to be particularly aggressive here. (of course our trees haven't evolved with these) My personal opinion is that unless we, as a country, start to create more diversity, we're going to have some real long term problems. I was in Prague in September and the wooded areas around the city were loosing hundreds of horse chestnuts to bleeding canker. Lots of sorbus and prunus were also in decline. I,m just concerned as to what the future holds.

Thanks for the reply. It wasn't particularly woodland I was referring to. I was talking to our local TO recently with regard to current tree losses due to new pathogens. Locally the councils looking to change their suggestions for replacement planting requirements, ie more exotic species that can deal with environmental changes and new pathogenic threats. With Denmark now operating a 10% rule, (if a genus comprises ten or more percent of the local tree cover another genus is planted) due to their losses of ash trees, I thought this formulae was really relevant. I was hoping someone would just post "it's .............rule"

I read a citation for planting for biodiversity recently, but can't find it again. It was someones name (if that helps) and gave percentages for species, genuses and families in a planting scheme. Any ideas?

That's probably a good idea. The plot has maybe a dozen trees on, surrounded on three sides by retaining walls and is lawned. I'd imagine there are nutrient/mineral deficiencies anyway. I'd have loved to have visited earlier in the year when everything was in leaf, to better assess the vitality of the group. Are there risks in amending soils? In that certain chemicals can increase certain soil fungi. I seem to remember reading something. I'm going to meet the cllient again after christmas and broach the subject of replanting with beech, as a more tolerant species than cypress. There's a cracking mature beech next door, so I'm assuming that conditions are suitable.

I've got that list, unfortunately the clients set her mind to the hedge so diversity is out. Still got some options on the other replanting as to choice of species. Replacing the soil, with barrier, would be an alternative, but the remaining trees would scupper a continuous barrier. Is there any other alternatives to decrease the aggressiveness of the armillaria, other than to increase the vitality of the surrounding trees.

I've a client with some real tree health issues and to be blunt I'm stuck with how to go forward. The client wants a row of 3m tall leyland cypresses planting, approximately 30, to screen a road and reduce the noise level. The garden has a number of semi-mature ash, horse chestnut, lime and sycamore. Yesterday we removed a sycamore with armillaria infection and a chestnut with bleeding canker. The armillaria I'm assuming has taken hold from a stump a couple of meters away. We ground the sycamore and a number of old stumps, removing all the grindings and replacing with fresh soil. The lime looks to have phytophthora and at least one other tree has collibia fucipes. The property is fairly new (10yrs maybe) and I suspect that during construction the rooting zones were comprised and a lot of these trees may be struggling. I haven't seen anything in leaf, so can't assess too much. She's keen to plant the hedge, as well as some replacement trees, but I think its too high risk. I was debating replacing a lot of soil along the hedge line and putting rootbarriers in, to isolate the new plants, but the existing trees would prevent that. Soil fumigation is an avenue to search, but I don't want to destroy any mycorrhiza because I think the group needs every benefit it can gain. Oh, the sites lawned or I'd be chucking a load of well composted chip down for starters.

Recognize this one, it was a bit decayed when I dismantled it.....

No cats, but two remote control planes. The second was in a real rough declining poplar. The owner pointed out how high he had free climbed, man he had some big ones to get as high as he did. These planes must have been worth a bit, I charged twenty quid for going out, they were really local, but both owners gave me fifty notes and took business cards for their flying club.

Totally agree about the imported trees, seems like it's been here nearer ten years now, just un-identified. I think there's just too much apathy generally on the entire issue. I've heard some recent comments from clients that make me think that the general population are clueless as to the consequences of the likes of Chalara, ALB, the phytophthoras etc. Discussing the local consequences to chalara with our local TO, our local authority are looking to require near a million pounds a year for a decade as a guess-timate. The figures for the transport network, road and rail are frightening. I wonder how the country is going to finance the issues and is there any way to reduce further introductions of pathogens.

Apologies, a poor choice of words. I think and hope that Chalara may be the wake up call the public needs. Although judging by recent discussions with clients I doubt it. Everyone on this forum must have realised the effect that this is going to have on our landscape. DED was bad, but chalara being airbourne is likely to be worse, more rapid and involve greater numbers. As end users I think we, as an industry, need to do more to promote the use of trees and plants of local provanence, regardless of cost. I appreciate that its difficult to educate the client, particularly where cash is involved. I find it ironic that the HTA are now looking to seek compensation for their members losses. The government failed to ban imports at the HTA's request, their members ignored a voluntary ban and now thats its occured they're going cap in hand.... Its a situation of long term problems over short term financial considerations. I'm sorry that I'm not a better debater, but I'm concerned about where we're heading enviromentally and what we are going to leave for our children and grandkids. I'll get off my soapbox........

I was trying, miserably, to come across as a bit tongue in cheek.. The numbers of young ash already identified and destroyed suggest that plant passports and inspections haven't worked as intended. Timber pallets and packaging are meant to be funigated/treated at 'point of origin' but the AOB has alrady landed here. I personally think we're heading rapidly into an environmental crisis in this island nation of ours due to climatic changes and new/adapting pathogens. I had no intention of vilifying anybody, certainly not the o.p, but personally feel its time that everyone begins to consider where plants are obtained from. I've no intention of making a big issue over this, the hedge looks great, has been well cut and prooves what money can buy. Cost is always going to be a major consideration. I'm well aware, knowing local growers and nurserymen, of all the issues involved.

So after all the fuss about Chalara no-one else sees any issue with importing yet more foreign trees?:001_rolleyes: Lighting touchpaper at arms length and beating a hasty retreat.........

Had a quick search on Abebooks and bookfinder, Amazon canada have them at £47 (but they ain't got any) next cheapest is £800.00 Top price is again Amazon Canada at £5000 Keep an eye on Ebay, I've picked a couple up recently

A cocker and three rotties. They normally spend the day in the office with the missus. We have tried taking the rotties (Roxie, her sons Busa and Harley) out but once I'm out of a vehicle they won't let anyone back in Strange cos they're such friendly family pets. On the plus side, we don't get the scrap lads round on a weekend when its quiet any more and the local drug dealer moved his meeting place after a quiet conversation late one night. I don't know if it was the conversation or the fact that Harley was stood with his paws on the car window sill, panting in his face. Arb dogs though, not a chance

A contractor mate looked into this as a heat source to raise water temp. for his imported Koi. If the temp stays up over the winter they continue to grow. Problem was the chip cools if it doesn't get agitated. Maybe the conditions get anaerobic and the decomposition slows. Put a jar of water into a chip pile one morning and it was almost too hot to touch by the end of the day. Sorry but that hasn't answered your question!

Loads of good points by all the other posters. We get a couple of cvs a week, plus lads knocking on the door in search of work. Sadly we can't employ them all. The people we do get back to supply well written cvs. Spelling errors are a huge downer. We don't require great written skills, but people who can't or don't bother to check simple spelling errors indicate a lack of care. You must understand that your CV may be the only impression that you make on a prospective employee. A poorly written one goes straight in the bin because another one will be in the next post. I'd suggest taking all the suggestions on board, re-write it and email to every tree firm in the yellow pages. A couple of days afterwards, give each firm a call and ensure they received it. Personally, we try to reply to every job enquiry just to acknowledge receipt. Best of luck in your job search

IMO, I believe the OP is 100% correct in his decision. Trainee climbers have enough to think about on sound trees, securing their work position, making correct cuts, ensuring their riggings correct etc. To have concerns about the integrity of the actual tree adds too much else to worry about. We've a couple of in-experienced climbers, who whilst both being competent, have no where near enough experienced to constantly assess the changing loading and stress forces that occur during the dismantling process on a compromised tree. An experienced climber will, hopefully, realise the consequence of every action and understand and calculate the risk factors. Whereas an inexperienced one may not even foresee the danger.

Quoted from; Crown Pruning Effects on Roots by Dr. Kim D. Coder, University of Georgia, USA Across cell membranes in a tree is a small but measurable concentration gradient of electrons from inside to outside. Inside the cells, a high levels of electrons are maintained by photosynthesis which acts as an electron pump. Trees are extremely sensitive to electron loss through damage, pest attack, or environmental changes. Rapid increases in electron flow to the environment are sensed instantaneously. A trees reaction in order to slow electron loss is called compartmentalization. Alex Shigo did some work on this years ago, when a drill bit was used to create a hole only in the outer bark, chemical changes occured in the surrounding undamaged tissue.