What do you think of this pruning? Development site case study

Ekka · 10th April 2008, 05:09 AM

Just down the road from me they're developing a corner block.

Is a prominent large Albizia on it, spectacular in full leaf, it's just not that dense now getting ready to shed.

Now have a look at the pruning of it and comment, that pruning is half way around you just cant see the back from this angle.

TreeSpecialist · 10th April 2008, 05:19 AM

We need to come up with some new descriptive terms for this kind of mutilation.

In a way, it's almost too bad that trees don't react more dramatically (quickly) to this kind of nonsense.

I personally love the ring porous trees in that when a contractor trenches and cuts off half the roots here in Central Texas on a hot summer day, that half of the tree can wilt and die by nightfall. It teaches folks that trees can and do react to poor work around their root systems and usually results in a large settlement - a lesson not soon forgotten as trees "teach" one contractor at a time.

The trouble with this kind of pruning is that the limbs will still likely flush out, rot and decay will set in, and the new adventitious sprouts will be subject to falling from the tree in the future. By then, the culprit will be long gone.

If you could catch people in the act and photograph them, you could be an expert witness in the future when the limbs fail and hurt something or somebody.

Ekka · 10th April 2008, 05:37 AM

I see you guys use this "ring porous" term a lot, what exactly do you mean by that?

TreeDimensional · 10th April 2008, 07:29 AM

Some trees that are ring porous are Elms, Oaks, and Ash. These trees display wide ring increments in the spring wood xylem, and narrower ring growth in the later season growth.

It is a biological issue that is related to the density of the cells at the time of growth, the later developed wood (xylem) is composed of cells that are smaller in diameter

Alternately, trees like Poplar, Maples and Planetrees are considered diffuse porous, and may be identified by uniform ring growth in the xylem.

JohN Dee · 11th April 2008, 12:16 AM

Topping in disguise eh? I wonder what they were trying to achieve with that kind of pruning?

Hey, I've came up with the new name and we all HATE it anyways. Undercutting

or cuthroat for sure. LOL

. But, I reckon it suites it.

Ekka · 11th April 2008, 12:53 AM

If you were to pollard a tree, then that would be the best way to try, cut off both sides of the co-dominant.

Now I drive past this every day. If it were done to create clearance for building etc then the argument is ... is it better than having big wounds at the trunk?

The branches as you can see by the unpruned side dont offer much of a drop crotch situation. So, whether clearance or crown lift you would end up with >12"dia wounds at the trunk, and for albizia that is bad.

The obvious solution was the TPZ, they should have allowed enough room for an unbutchered canopy.

Ekka · 11th April 2008, 11:02 PM

Now lets see how the TPZ is going, NOT!

Now they also saved some of the paperbarks along the fence.

Check it out, lets put some large gravel down, all our shit there and park there, great TPZ! NOT!

Sean Freeman · 11th April 2008, 11:54 PM

That would have to be the cheapest TPZ in history??!!??

treeseer · 12th April 2008, 05:42 AM

If pruning was done to allow tall vehicle access on the road, then it was as good as can be. Cuts were made at nodes, where regrowth will be better.

"Proper reduction cuts are made at nodes or crotches" Alex Shigo, p. 458, ANTB

10th April 2008, 05:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
TreeSpecialist Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 121	Re: What do you think of this pruning? We need to come up with some new descriptive terms for this kind of mutilation. In a way, it's almost too bad that trees don't react more dramatically (quickly) to this kind of nonsense. I personally love the ring porous trees in that when a contractor trenches and cuts off half the roots here in Central Texas on a hot summer day, that half of the tree can wilt and die by nightfall. It teaches folks that trees can and do react to poor work around their root systems and usually results in a large settlement - a lesson not soon forgotten as trees "teach" one contractor at a time. The trouble with this kind of pruning is that the limbs will still likely flush out, rot and decay will set in, and the new adventitious sprouts will be subject to falling from the tree in the future. By then, the culprit will be long gone. If you could catch people in the act and photograph them, you could be an expert witness in the future when the limbs fail and hurt something or somebody.

10th April 2008, 05:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	Re: What do you think of this pruning? I see you guys use this "ring porous" term a lot, what exactly do you mean by that? __________________ 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

10th April 2008, 07:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 385	Re: What do you think of this pruning? Some trees that are ring porous are Elms, Oaks, and Ash. These trees display wide ring increments in the spring wood xylem, and narrower ring growth in the later season growth. It is a biological issue that is related to the density of the cells at the time of growth, the later developed wood (xylem) is composed of cells that are smaller in diameter Alternately, trees like Poplar, Maples and Planetrees are considered diffuse porous, and may be identified by uniform ring growth in the xylem.

11th April 2008, 12:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
JohN Dee Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 728	Re: What do you think of this pruning? Topping in disguise eh? I wonder what they were trying to achieve with that kind of pruning? Hey, I've came up with the new name and we all HATE it anyways. Undercutting or cuthroat for sure. LOL . But, I reckon it suites it. __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

11th April 2008, 12:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,846	Re: What do you think of this pruning? If you were to pollard a tree, then that would be the best way to try, cut off both sides of the co-dominant. Now I drive past this every day. If it were done to create clearance for building etc then the argument is ... is it better than having big wounds at the trunk? The branches as you can see by the unpruned side dont offer much of a drop crotch situation. So, whether clearance or crown lift you would end up with >12"dia wounds at the trunk, and for albizia that is bad. The obvious solution was the TPZ, they should have allowed enough room for an unbutchered canopy. __________________ 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

12th April 2008, 05:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
treeseer Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SE USA Posts: 527	Re: What do you think of this pruning? Development site case study If pruning was done to allow tall vehicle access on the road, then it was as good as can be. Cuts were made at nodes, where regrowth will be better. "Proper reduction cuts are made at nodes or crotches" Alex Shigo, p. 458, ANTB __________________ Guy Meilleur \| Forensic Arborist \| Better Tree Care

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