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.
