Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning

azrael · 11th January 2008, 03:42 AM

Before and after shots of pruning in a Blackbutt (E.pilularis)....the new residence (on piers) will be 5metres from the tree. Many limbs were packed with termite soil...which was a bit of a surprise...even to the climber (who battled with a blunt chain all morning as a result).
Now tree will be scheduled for a re-check about every 2-3 years.
My role (Consultant Arborist) ...... to be satisfied the clearance has been achieved and that pruning is to AS...and that T.P.Z. fence is up and mulched(that was done after the photo taken).

Ekka · 11th January 2008, 04:25 AM

Is that a creek or some sort of water body behind it?

And it appears to be leaning that way.

Pretty common for termites, some of those hollow cut offs could be converted to nesting logs.

Give them away to the local landscape mob or something, just have to screw some backing on one end and secure some wire to it so it can be put up in the trees.

azrael · 11th January 2008, 07:44 AM

The wood is for fire-wood...but I'll suggest the nesting hollows idea. There no shortage of hollows around this area...the place right next door has a tree with hollows and nesting Rosellas.

This site is on an escarpment bench, and the view, beyond the the tree, is to the east (with ocean glimpses). There is a small dry gully (intermittent creek) a bit further north of this tree...(to the LHS of the tree) meeting up with another larger watercourse on the far downslope.

Beyond the tree is moderately steep downslope, and the lower boundary abuts the Illawarra Railway Line.
The slope is heavily timbered (wet schlophyll forest).

That is an Acmena smithii immediately behind the Euc, and lower downslope there are a couple of large Glochidion (Cheese Tree), but the rest is quite etiolated includes Pittosporum undulatum, Allocasuarina torulosa, and Rhodamnia (Scrub Stringybark), Turpentines, Grey Ironbark (E.paniculata) , E. bot.x saligna and more younger age Blackbutts.

I was very mindful of termites when I initially inspected this tree.There have already been two corrupt trees removed at the southern boundary, and many other further downslope with termites too.
Without pruning and removal of deadwood stubs, the extent of termite acticvity in this tree could have been missed. There was not a single corrupt fork..no aerial decline....just what appeared to be old wind snapped branches with dieback...which considering its age....would not be unexpected.

Pruning had to meet Bushfire compliance.....to be well clear of the roof of the new residence.

In the pic of the tree before pruning, the trunk appears darker than in the after. If anyone wonders why it is darker.....it is wet.

Sean Freeman · 11th January 2008, 11:52 PM

Lovely trees, and a good job Azrael!

Had the pleasure to help protect a huge Blackbutt (E.pilularis) in Currumbin a few years ago.

DSCF2674.JPG

DSCF2675.JPG

Ekka · 12th January 2008, 12:49 AM

Nice guys, hey Sean, that's not the development that slid down the hill in rain is it?

Sean Freeman · 12th January 2008, 03:40 AM

Not that particular side of the hill but yes it was the same area, over on the ocean side.

Bernard Keays · 15th January 2008, 05:06 AM

Azrael.

You mentioned E. bot.x saligna in your threat. What do they look like? Is it a naturally occurring hybrid?

azrael · 15th January 2008, 08:14 PM

The Eucalyptus botryoides x saligna are a naturally occurring hybrid in the Illawarra....and are one of the most common Eucs. of the Wollongong area.

Whilst the parents (E.saligna and E.botryoides) have quite specific habitats, the hybridized offspring, or intergrade) occupy a much wider range of habitats/environments; habitats which the parents would not normally thrive in.

The parent species have very different identifying characteristics, but the phenotypic expression of the hybrid can be variable (displays features from each parent).

Usually there is long stocking of botryoides-like bark on the trunk, with smooth branches (whereas saligna is very short stocking and otherwise smooth throughout).

Leaf shape usually is more saligna-like in shape but thicker, and nearly always with Brown Lace Lerp damage. The buds and capsules are invariably saligna-like.

Height-wise thay can be variable depending on the location, but nearly always to the taller side...and rather like saligna in that regard.

In fact, except for the bark stocking they arn't too much like botryoides at all, but they're different looking to saligna too.

I will try get a photo next time I'm out and about.

Ekka · 15th January 2008, 08:36 PM

Great, we expect to see pics of all 3 then.

newguy18 · 16th January 2008, 09:39 PM

great pics guys.

Bernard Keays · 17th January 2008, 01:04 AM

Interesting...Several years ago when I was working with Forestry we had some trials set up with E. grandis x robusta and E. grandis x camaldulensis. They also had C. maculata x torelliana crosses. Is seed hard to get?

azrael · 17th January 2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Keays

Is seed hard to get?

I'm not sure how much viable seed is produced.

The RTA has occasionally planted the hybrids along city roadways...and they would have been locally grown at their nursery at Albion Park.
Wollongong mostly plant pure saligna in reserves, not hybrids....and they are raised at W'gong Botanic Gardens.

Growing naturally, E.saligna are uncommon in the urban area...mostly only found high on the escarpment, on the better talus soils ... and any that are in urban areas are planted (The Botanic Gardens Nursery provides trees for rate-payers too).

E.botryoides are far more common than E.saligna...probably because most of the urban area is fairly low altitude coastal, with poor-ish draining and clayey soils.

Sorry....No photos yet, camera card full of todays work.

Quantum Leaf · 17th February 2008, 06:03 AM

Eucalyptus saligna x botryoides
This natural hybrid (E. saligna x botryoides) is prolific througout the Illawarra, and I consider it to be a pioneering species. Where ever the bulldozers have been, it is one of the first trees to pop up. The bark stocking is variable in height, as are the characteristics of the capsule (regarding the valves).
It seems to have catered for the strongest attributes from both its parents,ie., easy to propogate, a fast grower, strong compartmentaliser, high durability rating (that is not prone to decay),and very adaptable. It has been suggested to catergorise this hybrid as a species in its own right.
Eucalyptus saligna
I have gone looking for remnant E.saligna on a number of occasions throughout the Illawarra in earlier years, and it had always evaded me. Leon Fullers doesn't offer a specific site, and talking to some local botanists (and this has been reinforced by Brooker/Kleinig), the species only appears naturally south of Batemans Bay and north of Sydney Harbour. Can you offer a location where I can find it, within the Illawarra?

azrael · 17th February 2008, 05:27 PM

Pure E.saligna ..I have NEVER seen any remnant trees ...but then most of my (inspection) sites are on the foothills and coastal strip.

I know of some planted trees which are easy to find ... Tarrawanna ... western side of Meadow Street - nearest cross street Wallace Road (small council reserve).

Or ... if you have time .... you might find a listing in the remnant Vegetation Database.
Remnant Bushland - Southern Councils Group

E.saligna is recorded as being present at this site. (Map 200) http://www.southerncouncils.nsw.gov....tion/p200.html .... which looks like it might be the site of Water Tower off Brokers Road, Balgownie ... near The Parkway.

Good luck QL. (& check your PM's )

11th January 2008, 04:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,734	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Is that a creek or some sort of water body behind it? And it appears to be leaning that way. Pretty common for termites, some of those hollow cut offs could be converted to nesting logs. Give them away to the local landscape mob or something, just have to screw some backing on one end and secure some wire to it so it can be put up in the trees. __________________ Arborist Training in Australia\| Your Free Helping Guide Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory .... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Tree Care, Consulting, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th January 2008, 07:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
azrael Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 313	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning The wood is for fire-wood...but I'll suggest the nesting hollows idea. There no shortage of hollows around this area...the place right next door has a tree with hollows and nesting Rosellas. This site is on an escarpment bench, and the view, beyond the the tree, is to the east (with ocean glimpses). There is a small dry gully (intermittent creek) a bit further north of this tree...(to the LHS of the tree) meeting up with another larger watercourse on the far downslope. Beyond the tree is moderately steep downslope, and the lower boundary abuts the Illawarra Railway Line. The slope is heavily timbered (wet schlophyll forest). That is an Acmena smithii immediately behind the Euc, and lower downslope there are a couple of large Glochidion (Cheese Tree), but the rest is quite etiolated includes Pittosporum undulatum, Allocasuarina torulosa, and Rhodamnia (Scrub Stringybark), Turpentines, Grey Ironbark (E.paniculata) , E. bot.x saligna and more younger age Blackbutts. I was very mindful of termites when I initially inspected this tree.There have already been two corrupt trees removed at the southern boundary, and many other further downslope with termites too. Without pruning and removal of deadwood stubs, the extent of termite acticvity in this tree could have been missed. There was not a single corrupt fork..no aerial decline....just what appeared to be old wind snapped branches with dieback...which considering its age....would not be unexpected. Pruning had to meet Bushfire compliance.....to be well clear of the roof of the new residence. In the pic of the tree before pruning, the trunk appears darker than in the after. If anyone wonders why it is darker.....it is wet.

11th January 2008, 11:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,868	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Lovely trees, and a good job Azrael! Had the pleasure to help protect a huge Blackbutt (E.pilularis) in Currumbin a few years ago. DSCF2674.JPG DSCF2675.JPG __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

12th January 2008, 12:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,734	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Nice guys, hey Sean, that's not the development that slid down the hill in rain is it? __________________ Arborist Training in Australia\| Your Free Helping Guide Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory .... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Tree Care, Consulting, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

12th January 2008, 03:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,868	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Not that particular side of the hill but yes it was the same area, over on the ocean side. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

15th January 2008, 05:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 88	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Azrael. You mentioned E. bot.x saligna in your threat. What do they look like? Is it a naturally occurring hybrid? __________________ Bernie

15th January 2008, 08:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
azrael Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 313	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning The Eucalyptus botryoides x saligna are a naturally occurring hybrid in the Illawarra....and are one of the most common Eucs. of the Wollongong area. Whilst the parents (E.saligna and E.botryoides) have quite specific habitats, the hybridized offspring, or intergrade) occupy a much wider range of habitats/environments; habitats which the parents would not normally thrive in. The parent species have very different identifying characteristics, but the phenotypic expression of the hybrid can be variable (displays features from each parent). Usually there is long stocking of botryoides-like bark on the trunk, with smooth branches (whereas saligna is very short stocking and otherwise smooth throughout). Leaf shape usually is more saligna-like in shape but thicker, and nearly always with Brown Lace Lerp damage. The buds and capsules are invariably saligna-like. Height-wise thay can be variable depending on the location, but nearly always to the taller side...and rather like saligna in that regard. In fact, except for the bark stocking they arn't too much like botryoides at all, but they're different looking to saligna too. I will try get a photo next time I'm out and about.

15th January 2008, 08:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,734	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Great, we expect to see pics of all 3 then. __________________ Arborist Training in Australia\| Your Free Helping Guide Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory .... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Tree Care, Consulting, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

16th January 2008, 09:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dead twig Florida. Posts: 4,062	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning great pics guys. __________________ Have your say join us today. I ship USA saws out of the USA "Everybody's hell on safety." G.f.beranek. www.atreestory.com

17th January 2008, 01:04 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 88	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Interesting...Several years ago when I was working with Forestry we had some trials set up with E. grandis x robusta and E. grandis x camaldulensis. They also had C. maculata x torelliana crosses. Is seed hard to get? __________________ Bernie

17th February 2008, 06:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
Quantum Leaf Sappling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Illawarra, NSW Posts: 13	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning *Eucalyptus saligna x botryoides* This natural hybrid (E. saligna x botryoides) is prolific througout the Illawarra, and I consider it to be a pioneering species. Where ever the bulldozers have been, it is one of the first trees to pop up. The bark stocking is variable in height, as are the characteristics of the capsule (regarding the valves). It seems to have catered for the strongest attributes from both its parents,ie., easy to propogate, a fast grower, strong compartmentaliser, high durability rating (that is not prone to decay),and very adaptable. It has been suggested to catergorise this hybrid as a species in its own right. *Eucalyptus saligna* I have gone looking for remnant E.saligna on a number of occasions throughout the Illawarra in earlier years, and it had always evaded me. Leon Fullers doesn't offer a specific site, and talking to some local botanists (and this has been reinforced by Brooker/Kleinig), the species only appears naturally south of Batemans Bay and north of Sydney Harbour. Can you offer a location where I can find it, within the Illawarra?

17th February 2008, 05:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
azrael Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 313	Re: Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning Pure E.saligna ..I have NEVER seen any remnant trees ...but then most of my (inspection) sites are on the foothills and coastal strip. I know of some planted trees which are easy to find ... Tarrawanna ... western side of Meadow Street - nearest cross street Wallace Road (small council reserve). Or ... if you have time .... you might find a listing in the remnant Vegetation Database. Remnant Bushland - Southern Councils Group E.saligna is recorded as being present at this site. (Map 200) http://www.southerncouncils.nsw.gov....tion/p200.html .... which looks like it might be the site of Water Tower off Brokers Road, Balgownie ... near The Parkway. Good luck QL. (& check your PM's )

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