Quote:
Originally Posted by blair duncanson  All,
The number of times folk are mentioning extremes of weather. Regardless whether you think climate change is a reality or not, i certainly feel that there are bigger extremes in the weather. Thing is, do any of you international arborists consider this when offering clients advise, tree spp, crown reduction etc, etc. Kinda feel we have a certain responsibility? In area of Scotland i remember recently reading that some orginations were considering serious crown reductions on Fagus sylvatica, shallow rooted, prone to windthrow and they wanted to preserve the population of Beeches?What do you think and have you altered you're mind set when offering advise??  |
hey blair, i think it is important that an arborist is based in their area for a substantial amount of time, or if moving to a new area they should research, ask local arborists about the local species and reactions to extreme weather. i have travelled and worked around a bit now, and always try to achieve the local knowledge, where possible.
im currently working in a hard wood belt in the mid west, america, and recently have had to some reductions/tip pruning on silver maples ,hackberrys and elms. these species tend to have "over extension" in limbs throughout the canopy. in ice storms, or high winds, tornados/hurricanes these snap of, in turn creating a smaller canopy.
i have had to climb and reduce these over extensions, to help to prevent these "over extended"(a term of a local arborist) limbs from snapping under there own weight or excessive weather conditions.
i can see how this type of pruning can work,
but i have seen trees that have had similar pruning done, about 5 or so years ago, and the tips become far denser than it would normally appear.
so, i think that this new denser tip canopy would be more susceptible to wind damage because the wind cant pass through the canopy as easily,( like wind hitting a solid wall, apposed to wind hitting a wall with gaps in it ,ya see what im getting at?) and this could possibly cause larger limb?or whole tree failure, im still yet to witness a major wind storm here, and probably wont be around long enough to see one.
i dont agree with crown reductions unless it absolutely nessacery to preserve a trees health.
anybody else got any experience with exterme weather conditions and prevention pruning?
p.s, where in scotland are ya ill be heading those ways in may.
scott forrest.