your take on pruning with spurs on

newguy18 · 5th September 2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt_Fickeisen

According to ANSI A300 standards for pruning

5.2.2

Sprurs shall not be used for climbing or pruning

There are exceptions to this rule. Getting into a tree is one, so is bark thickness and utility work.

Here in the Pacific Northwest I've climbed a ton of tree such as bid Douglass firs. Even though they have thick bark with careful use a throwball can get you up the tree. You might need a slingshot too sometimes.

I have run into situations where we had to prune a stand of second growth trees that grew as pecker polls due to close planting. I'd spur up one since I couldn't get a rope over a good support, but then I'd swing from tree to tree for the rest of the day. Fun times.

I still can't vote in the pole. You should make every attempt to not use spurs, but there are exceptions to the rule.

Saftey is one.

Knotahippie · 5th September 2008, 01:09 PM

Rock climbing/top roping is great practice for hookless climbing. makes things alot easier in the long run.

Knotahippie · 6th September 2008, 02:44 PM

I posted this tech. on a different post but it applies here.

Alot of competition here in CA. so every little trick makes a difference...and everyone wants to go faster...

...It took me a while to dial in hooks and a little longer to get fast with the slings, but after I learned sling tech. I wondered why I ever used hooks.

Check out the pic.

Spurring trees is like making a long line of flush cuts, usually on one side of the stem. The cambium around these holes dry up, and on average make an invisible wound the size of a silver dollar.

There are many avoidable, horrible tree problems caused directly by spurring living tissue.

I worked this setup many times before I actually used it on a paying job.

MTS247 · 6th September 2008, 04:00 PM

My old boss always said "I dont mind spiking trees for line clearance because the damage from the spikes is nothing compaired to what im going to do to it when i get up there"

Knotahippie · 6th September 2008, 04:10 PM

Sounds like a pretty cool guy!

How does he treat his pets...Goes to the vet and says, cut that foot off, and maybe that leg in the back too...

davido · 23rd November 2008, 03:13 AM

Old thread, here. I hate that it may hurt the tree but I spike palms to prune. I actually joined this site for this reason. To find a better way. But nobody's been able to convince me of anything. On Washingtonias - as long as they haven't been skinned - you can sorta gaff into the old boots. It's a bit hairy but if you're not too heavy it works. The boots hide marks, too. Not that that makes it okay to damage the tree. I've seen people show examples of srt climbing the tree but not actually doing any work while up there. It's just up, down, "see! it's easy!". Yeah, whatever. In Vegas, if there's a tree it's because the homeowner planted it (or one before him) and what he wants is an affordable alternative. A bucket truck isn't it and all too often there isn't access anyway. Maybe I'm a hack but until there's a better way I'm stuck with gaffing up palms.

newguy18 · 23rd November 2008, 07:06 AM

Don't worry about it i use gaffs on palms for cleaning so does Ekka.

OutofMytree · 24th November 2008, 05:49 AM

Same here mate. The fluid exchange in a palm is throughout the entire trunk so the usual damage you would see on a "real" tree just doesnt occur. I have pruned Cocos palms where I am the 3rd 4th and once even the 5th set of spur tracks up a Cocos. Come to think of it Cocos take up to 25 years in WA to get over 8m to the head, so if I am on average the 3rd prune, thats 1 prune every 5 years for a plant that can drop some of the nastiest junk onto ya backyard that you can imagine. Fancy getting pinned to your own back lawn by a seed pod that can weigh 67kg (personal record).

I am a strict no-spurs-unless-removing business owner and arborist. I dont spur to prune and neither do my crew. With the exception of Palms.

Knotahippie · 25th November 2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutofMytree

Same here mate. The fluid exchange in a palm is throughout the entire trunk so the usual damage you would see on a "real" tree just doesnt occur.

I haven't seen much disease from hooks directly...I'm still lookin'.

Quote:

Fancy getting pinned to your own back lawn by a seed pod that can weigh 67kg (personal record).

Dude what?!

You got beaned by one of those?

OutofMytree · 25th November 2008, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotahippie

Dude what?!

You got beaned by one of those?

No no, rest easy mate. I was talking about the possibility. In high winds pods can tear off and because of their shape they often land point down. If you havent seen a decent cocos pod, we call em spears. This is a photo of our tallest personal pod to date. Adam is 5'9" to give you scale. Didnt put this one on the scales but the biggest I ever weighed was 67 kg and was of a similar size to this one.

Knotahippie · 25th November 2008, 03:29 PM

Glad to hear yr' OK.

Had me afeared for a second.

I had no idea Coco pods were that big or that much of a problem...

Suppose that's why ya'll got it out for em'

Therrin · 1st December 2008, 11:47 AM

I'm joining the general consensus here... spikeless for "normal" trees unless it's a removal.
But use spikes on unstripped washy palms. And even at that it's pretty tough sometimes to get a good hold. The base of the fresh cut pieces are usually thatched so closely that you cant get a good spike in and you end up standing on the thatched part. Makes for a pretty unstable feeling.

I dont see as how the tree bicycle or the sling method would work on unstripped washys. And, a throwline would be pretty risky in an area that's got wind and util lines runnin around em.

Havent had the problem of a section of the skirt falling down on me yet... hopefully it wont happen.

Knotahippie · 1st December 2008, 01:25 PM

How bout' this.

Therrin · 1st December 2008, 02:58 PM

Still wouldnt work on unstripped washys. It looks interesting though. Apparently other ppl are thinking about this stuff too.

I'd bet though, if you showed that guy a pair of spikes he'd go "HOLY CRAP!" and strap them on immediately and toss that contraption in the dumpster =)

newguy18 · 1st December 2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotahippie

How bout' this.

screw that.

davido · 1st December 2008, 05:04 PM

I actually thought about designing something similar to that. The only problem is that - once at the top - you still have no solid hold to the tree. Also, in order to use it on taller trees you'd have to have multiple units or stop and make adjustments. Either way it's HUGELY time consuming and wouldn't be time/cost effective. Trying to slide a contraption like that up an unskinned Washy would be a nightmare! It's hard enough using a flipline because it's always getting hung up on the boots as you make your way up the tree, but at least with gaffs you have a firm grip with your legs to be able to reach around and pull it loose. SRT leaves you dangling, too. Plus, how do you avoid breaking fronds when setting your climbing line? It would seem it's unanimous then - at least by those that do the work. Gaffing palms is about the only way to trim them.

5th September 2008, 01:09 PM	#177 (permalink)
Knotahippie Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area Ca. Posts: 322	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Rock climbing/top roping is great practice for hookless climbing. makes things alot easier in the long run.

6th September 2008, 04:00 PM	#179 (permalink)
MTS247 Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 120	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on My old boss always said "I dont mind spiking trees for line clearance because the damage from the spikes is nothing compaired to what im going to do to it when i get up there"

6th September 2008, 04:10 PM	#180 (permalink)
Knotahippie Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area Ca. Posts: 322	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Sounds like a pretty cool guy! How does he treat his pets...Goes to the vet and says, cut that foot off, and maybe that leg in the back too...

23rd November 2008, 03:13 AM	#181 (permalink)
davido I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Old thread, here. I hate that it may hurt the tree but I spike palms to prune. I actually joined this site for this reason. To find a better way. But nobody's been able to convince me of anything. On Washingtonias - as long as they haven't been skinned - you can sorta gaff into the old boots. It's a bit hairy but if you're not too heavy it works. The boots hide marks, too. Not that that makes it okay to damage the tree. I've seen people show examples of srt climbing the tree but not actually doing any work while up there. It's just up, down, "see! it's easy!". Yeah, whatever. In Vegas, if there's a tree it's because the homeowner planted it (or one before him) and what he wants is an affordable alternative. A bucket truck isn't it and all too often there isn't access anyway. Maybe I'm a hack but until there's a better way I'm stuck with gaffing up palms.

23rd November 2008, 07:06 AM	#182 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dead twig Florida. Posts: 4,062	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Don't worry about it i use gaffs on palms for cleaning so does Ekka. __________________ 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

24th November 2008, 05:49 AM	#183 (permalink)
OutofMytree Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Perth Posts: 317	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Same here mate. The fluid exchange in a palm is throughout the entire trunk so the usual damage you would see on a "real" tree just doesnt occur. I have pruned Cocos palms where I am the 3rd 4th and once even the 5th set of spur tracks up a Cocos. Come to think of it Cocos take up to 25 years in WA to get over 8m to the head, so if I am on average the 3rd prune, thats 1 prune every 5 years for a plant that can drop some of the nastiest junk onto ya backyard that you can imagine. Fancy getting pinned to your own back lawn by a seed pod that can weigh 67kg (personal record). I am a strict no-spurs-unless-removing business owner and arborist. I dont spur to prune and neither do my crew. With the exception of Palms.

25th November 2008, 03:29 PM	#186 (permalink)
Knotahippie Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bay Area Ca. Posts: 322	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Glad to hear yr' OK. Had me afeared for a second. I had no idea Coco pods were that big or that much of a problem... Suppose that's why ya'll got it out for em'

1st December 2008, 11:47 AM	#187 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,424	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on I'm joining the general consensus here... spikeless for "normal" trees unless it's a removal. But use spikes on unstripped washy palms. And even at that it's pretty tough sometimes to get a good hold. The base of the fresh cut pieces are usually thatched so closely that you cant get a good spike in and you end up standing on the thatched part. Makes for a pretty unstable feeling. I dont see as how the tree bicycle or the sling method would work on unstripped washys. And, a throwline would be pretty risky in an area that's got wind and util lines runnin around em. Havent had the problem of a section of the skirt falling down on me yet... hopefully it wont happen. __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

1st December 2008, 02:58 PM	#189 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,424	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Still wouldnt work on unstripped washys. It looks interesting though. Apparently other ppl are thinking about this stuff too. I'd bet though, if you showed that guy a pair of spikes he'd go "HOLY CRAP!" and strap them on immediately and toss that contraption in the dumpster =) __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

1st December 2008, 05:04 PM	#191 (permalink)
davido I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on I actually thought about designing something similar to that. The only problem is that - once at the top - you still have no solid hold to the tree. Also, in order to use it on taller trees you'd have to have multiple units or stop and make adjustments. Either way it's HUGELY time consuming and wouldn't be time/cost effective. Trying to slide a contraption like that up an unskinned Washy would be a nightmare! It's hard enough using a flipline because it's always getting hung up on the boots as you make your way up the tree, but at least with gaffs you have a firm grip with your legs to be able to reach around and pull it loose. SRT leaves you dangling, too. Plus, how do you avoid breaking fronds when setting your climbing line? It would seem it's unanimous then - at least by those that do the work. Gaffing palms is about the only way to trim them.