Northern Tree Specialists

Sean Freeman · 24th April 2007, 04:19 AM

Ok, so here I shall post pics from some of the jobs we get up to in North Queensland, mind you some of these are in SE Queensland, but anyway.

1st up is a removal of an Albizia lebbeck with a bad case of the Ganoderma's
Now we're not the sort of Arb guys who will start a saw when ever we see fungal fruiting bodies. This tree on a 50' lean obviously regrowth over severely damaged root crown with one half of the regrowth failed due to fungal decay, the root system on the other side 15+ Ganoderma fruiting bodies, canopy over the entrance road to the car park of the Towns Sports Reserve.

Red arrow points at dead section, yelow circle surrounds very large number of brackets..photo taken few weeks ago

Closer look at that stem...are those roots telling us anything special...I think they are.

Tim about to go up, looks enthusiastic doesn't he?

Better view of the target area under the leaning canopy

8am

9am

Last two in next post

Sean Freeman · 24th April 2007, 04:26 AM

10am byebye EWP

Final cut on the stump, its a good one showing heaps of stuff going on inside the tree, we've fungi, termites, more fungi, old wounds, rolled rams horns, reaction wood, wound wood, lots of boundaries....Alex could've written a book on what you can see in this stump.

JohN Dee · 25th April 2007, 05:47 AM

Wowee nice job Sean, did you diagnose those problems in the detail you described to us before or after you cut the stump? So with that cavity in the stump, if the branch that was originally there had of been pruned correctly (Collar cut) the tree wouldn't of been so sick when you removed it?

The photo of the stump is a beauty - and I thought my photo of 3-4 inch bark inclusion was impressive.

Sean Freeman · 25th April 2007, 01:34 PM

John, we've been providing arb advice to the management of this sports reserve for about 12 months, no overall management plan as yet hopefully in the next couple of months. This tree came up in a general walk around the place three weeks back, not picked up in the initial survey 12 months back (oops!!) Wrote them a short report very stronglt recommending removal asap.

The problems for the tree are (were) multiple and hark back to the attempted removal say 20yrs ago. I think the entire tree was stump regrowth, but the original tree self sown I'd say was growing over rocks/concrete etc, after the failed attempt to remove it and the subsequent regrowth the road and the car park were built...further damage. Ganoderma arrives and finds a tree with numerous sittes for infection large injury at base with unprotected tissues..yum, yum. So begind the struggle for control of those tissues between fungi and tree, this can go on for 10 years, or more or be over in 12 months depends on the health and vigour of the tree environmental conditions etc...

So the low cut you mention yes was envovled certainlt but I don't think the tree would ever had been a long term proposition for the sports reserve (Qld state govt owned and managed), the excessive lean was also doubtless connected to the competition for light with neighbouring trees, it only made the risk greater for users of the facilities.

Albizias are interesting in the way they produce adventitious roots in dramatic fashion from just under the bark when function is lost in the roots below..glaring tell tale sign of loss of roots to pathogenic fungal colonisation, a severe injury, even massive would produce new growth at the injury site not 300/400mm above it from under the bark of the stem.
Here's a photo of another A lebbeck doing very similar, these roots were being produced almost all the way around the circumference of the stem...tree removed.

Ekka · 25th April 2007, 02:18 PM

Tim got to cut it down in the bucket, while Steve and Sean fed the chipper ... I think I'd rather have been Tim.

Good job, I was going to say the lot was regrowth. Have had similar here but not as big, mainly old ones people cut down then they resprout. I have had this debate about coppicing for regrowth ...

... it's a forestry management technique to but some argue that coppicing to ground and allowing a new tree to emerge is OK, perhaps some species. In the event of multiple stems some culling has to take place so the strongest remains.

I'm not sold though and think there's some facts to be disclosed on species suitability and location etc.

Good job crew up there, you get some interesting variety that's for sure .... now I have to do my BAS!

Sean Freeman · 27th April 2007, 03:25 PM

Ok here's something from about 18months ago, visiting Tim in Hosp due to allergic reaction on the job (Tims allergic to wasps, bees, some ants, centipeeds etc!!! yeah good for a tree guy eh?) So drive into the hospital grounds and what do I see?

In the carpark to the mental health unit

There's more

A little further back

Along the newly built path from a staff carpark to the blood bank

There's more next post

Sean Freeman · 27th April 2007, 03:39 PM

In the actual carpark leading to the new path

Not only lopped, buried and severely damaged

Also ganoderma cankers throughout one section of the upper stem

So seeing as I'm a consulting Arborist thats what I do consult...write a four page polite but direct report to the Hospital admin about what I have seen who I am what I do and have done in this town and what my recommendations are. Now I will point out that I have recieved some flak from elsewhere about writing reports for free..devaluing our profession etc but thats ok I'll wear that I'm afraid people can hold that opinion. But we're not finished at the Hospital yet!

6 months go by nothing no reply (which was dissapointing to say the least) no removals nothing then I revisit the hospital.

By now some of the lopped trees are putting on the last hurrah

and along the edge of that new path with the lopped Euc with only one side of a root plate...well they've fixed that

So I'm feeling well a little annoyed, noone likes to be ignored especially when you have an ego and self image as inflated as mine!
See one thing that is special about Hospitals esp ours is that even in the worst weather Cat 4 cyclones for example this place will be open, staff will be parking in these carparks and having to use that new path to get to work. The increased risk as a result of the "work" done to these trees will be faced by those doctors and nurses.

Final chapter to come.

Sean Freeman · 27th April 2007, 03:52 PM

So about 6 months ago the grounds staff at the hospital phone Steve asking for a report on a native tree in the new construction area that has to be retained and protected..due to pressure from the neighbouring Uni...well it would hardly have come from the Hosp admin would it!!!LOL

When we go out what do we see?
The tree in the carpark of the mental health area

the tree a bit further back

The larger stemmed Euc in the staff car park is still alive with its stem damage, buried root system epicormic regrowth and cankers, the pathway still has its lopped smaller trees with their half root plates.

You know sometimes you just have to admit that you can tell a mug, just can't them much....This story still has some chapters to be written I just really hope that catastrophic failure will not be the title of any of them.

Ekka · 27th April 2007, 04:03 PM

Sean

Go to authorities and media.

Sean Freeman · 27th April 2007, 06:09 PM

What I think I will do is make a greater effort to actually meet with the Hospital Administrator, as things stand I don't even know if they recieved the original report. The grounds guys we saw when recording data for the AIA on the native tree (Lysiphyllum hookeri) said they knew nothing of the report..which doesn't mean much.
I would probably write 6 reports off my own bat during the year resulting from coming accross rubbish work like that at the hospital. Most 95% would go to council about trees they own and have done "work" to. I'm not shying away from your suggestion Eric, just that I have to take into consideration how it will impact on Steve's business. I need to ensure that the right people saw and read the report first...thats why I like email so much, I can send a report and tag the email so I know they opened it, then follow up with another...wish to discuss further, or expand on possible management options etc..get into a dialogue with people to help them better manage their trees. Media are never interested in anything except sensationalising things facts and details aren't their strong point.

Should add the three dead trees (another one that I didnt see or photograph but was lopped died) have been removed.so the hospital paid for the lopping, paid for the construction damage, then ran the great risk and liability with the dying trees, then paid for the now dead trees to be removed!

Ekka · 28th April 2007, 02:08 AM

See

The whole problem centers around tree protection.

If the tree is not protected then the owner can do what they like.

And the reason for the media and authorities is to see why there needs to be rules, enforce-able rules.

If the hospital owns those trees and chooses to hack them (violates AS4373) and the trees die (3 did) ... so what? It's their trees and they can do what they like. The only time they'd be in trouble is if they failed and some-one made a civil case against them for damages.

The only thing that has to change here and save you doing a lot of charity work is VPO's, until then, your pissing on fires.

Orevention is better than cure. I also put a lot of effort into client education, I got people who get me from my website and still want trees topped, people dont read!

VPO's, the quick and easy solution. Then like the GCCC did they enclose the VPO details with rates mailouts, do some media campaign etc.

But right now for every person like me who says dont top it ... 3 are saying "no worries mate, about half way do ya?"

So this type of thing needs exposure and authorities.

Sean Freeman · 3rd May 2007, 12:18 AM

So here's a medium sized Ficus benghalensis at the same sports reserve where we reomved the A. lebbeck the other day. This tree, the fig we've been looking after for about 18mths, was originally slated for removal on the advice of one of our local professional loppers "dangerous tree mate full of rot and fungi it'll kill someone we'll get rid of it".
Well cut a long and self aggrandising story short, we pursuaded the management of the reserve to retain the tree, after soil and root treatment and some reduction pruning and recommended they fence the tree to prevent any targets being present under the canopy. As you'll see the fence was never built, but they did build some mounds for seating and shade structures for spectators along the edge of the footy field next to the tree...great! To make matters a little worse the tree is showing continued decline in the grafted limbs holding two leaning prop roots and the canopy they support. You can see the structures I'm talking about in this photo

So I wrote a short report advising them of the changes in the tree and importantly in the targets under the tree, recommending that the two leaning section be removed ASAP. The tree as some might know has a very attractive spreading proped habit, I feel that in 5/10 yrs if it is looked after it will have grown out beyond the position of these leaning parts we are removing.

Me taking small canopy sections off

Messing about with two TIPs whilst Tim works hard on the ground

Even more messing about, hasn't he noticed I've stopped cutting yet?

Now some fun for the fella triple scarf and back cuts

Will put the last bits and the final look in the next post

Sean Freeman · 3rd May 2007, 12:25 AM

Banyan reduction cont'

Tim fells the stick

On the ground

Someone is going to have to clean all that up mate, and I'm busy taking photos for the forum!

2nd stick down

How she looks

Not bad for two guys humping logs into the old truck till 3.30pm!! But then it is winter here now 33'C today very chilli (yeah right!)

25th April 2007, 05:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
JohN Dee Astronaut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 679	Wowee nice job Sean, did you diagnose those problems in the detail you described to us before or after you cut the stump? So with that cavity in the stump, if the branch that was originally there had of been pruned correctly (Collar cut) the tree wouldn't of been so sick when you removed it? The photo of the stump is a beauty - and I thought my photo of 3-4 inch bark inclusion was impressive. __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

25th April 2007, 02:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Tim got to cut it down in the bucket, while Steve and Sean fed the chipper ... I think I'd rather have been Tim. Good job, I was going to say the lot was regrowth. Have had similar here but not as big, mainly old ones people cut down then they resprout. I have had this debate about coppicing for regrowth ... ... it's a forestry management technique to but some argue that coppicing to ground and allowing a new tree to emerge is OK, perhaps some species. In the event of multiple stems some culling has to take place so the strongest remains. I'm not sold though and think there's some facts to be disclosed on species suitability and location etc. Good job crew up there, you get some interesting variety that's for sure .... now I have to do my BAS! __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

27th April 2007, 04:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	Sean Go to authorities and media. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

27th April 2007, 06:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,521	What I think I will do is make a greater effort to actually meet with the Hospital Administrator, as things stand I don't even know if they recieved the original report. The grounds guys we saw when recording data for the AIA on the native tree (Lysiphyllum hookeri) said they knew nothing of the report..which doesn't mean much. I would probably write 6 reports off my own bat during the year resulting from coming accross rubbish work like that at the hospital. Most 95% would go to council about trees they own and have done "work" to. I'm not shying away from your suggestion Eric, just that I have to take into consideration how it will impact on Steve's business. I need to ensure that the right people saw and read the report first...thats why I like email so much, I can send a report and tag the email so I know they opened it, then follow up with another...wish to discuss further, or expand on possible management options etc..get into a dialogue with people to help them better manage their trees. Media are never interested in anything except sensationalising things facts and details aren't their strong point. Should add the three dead trees (another one that I didnt see or photograph but was lopped died) have been removed.so the hospital paid for the lopping, paid for the construction damage, then ran the great risk and liability with the dying trees, then paid for the now dead trees to be removed! __________________ 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

28th April 2007, 02:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,673	See The whole problem centers around tree protection. If the tree is not protected then the owner can do what they like. And the reason for the media and authorities is to see why there needs to be rules, enforce-able rules. If the hospital owns those trees and chooses to hack them (violates AS4373) and the trees die (3 did) ... so what? It's their trees and they can do what they like. The only time they'd be in trouble is if they failed and some-one made a civil case against them for damages. The only thing that has to change here and save you doing a lot of charity work is VPO's, until then, your pissing on fires. Orevention is better than cure. I also put a lot of effort into client education, I got people who get me from my website and still want trees topped, people dont read! VPO's, the quick and easy solution. Then like the GCCC did they enclose the VPO details with rates mailouts, do some media campaign etc. But right now for every person like me who says dont top it ... 3 are saying "no worries mate, about half way do ya?" So this type of thing needs exposure and authorities. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors