your take on pruning with spurs on

osb_mail · 18th September 2007, 05:30 PM

I live in city that many tree companys prune with spurs on . OK just for powerline clearance ? Ok if homeowner cant see spike marks because climbed with a ladder first 20 feet ? OK if the homeowner gets a cheaper price if you use spurs ? OK if it makes the climb safer ? not acceptable in any case ?

mdvaden · 18th September 2007, 06:22 PM

I quit subcontracting to one man whom I saw using a ladder to 20' to hide the gouges.

rangitata · 18th September 2007, 07:40 PM

No under any circumstances.

Blokes have been dismissed for less

Total Unprofessional, Unsightly and unnecessary.
Only time the spurs come out of the bag is when the tree is getting removed.
BUT THEN THERE IS COCOS PALMS

Mike

JayD · 18th September 2007, 08:01 PM

I second That.... Only for takedowns!!

And ofcorse Rescue..then it's a race against time and the only thing that matters is the injured person.

Ekka · 18th September 2007, 10:55 PM

I haven't voted yet coz I clean palms with spurs.

So, what's the alternative? Cherry picker, climbing clamps ($2.5K) rope over and dangle etc.

What about of you had to work on a 250' regnans, first branch 100', most would spur.

Hard for me to answer with a 100% no or yes, circumstances and common sense dictate here, what if spiking never pentrated thick bark through to cambium? Pine trees, gum trees such as ironbark, red gum etc, sorry, I know you want an answer from those options but I see too many differering situations ... of course I'd never spur some thin barked ornamental specimen but what if I was a seed collector or wildlife catcher?

fatkoala · 19th September 2007, 03:26 AM

Did some wildlife catching work catching koalas (to desex) on Kanagaroo Is SA for govt. The team caught over 1000 koalas not one tree spured.

TreeCo · 19th September 2007, 06:31 AM

Only hacks use spikes to prune trees.

Ekka · 19th September 2007, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatkoala

Did some wildlife catching work catching koalas (to desex) on Kangaroo Is SA for govt. The team caught over 1000 koalas not one tree spurred.

Cool, they reckon those Kangaroo Island Koala's are the wildest (aggressive) is that right?

rangitata · 19th September 2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Cool, they reckon those Kangaroo Island Koala's are the wildest (aggressive) is that right?

Ekka if they had any idea what was about to happen to them, I reckon they have every right to be aggrressive

Mike

TREE-SURFER · 19th September 2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdvaden

I quit subcontracting to one man whom I saw using a ladder to 20' to hide the gouges.

That is really bad.........

osb_mail · 19th September 2007, 06:44 PM

md vaden the same kind of stuff people do around here .My thoughts are if you really don't think spikes hurt trees than why not spike the whole tree I would guess the bottom 20ft would be less effected than the top part just my guess ???

Ekka · 19th September 2007, 10:58 PM

Hey, I spike cocos palms that's all.

Personally I reckon the spikes should have a hollow centre and be pressurized with round-up so as I go up I give them a good dose.

But I read some stuff on guys spiking other trees and the spikes only gauge the bark, bark is very thick.

Today I had my longest gaffs on and tried to spike up the bottom 2m of this big azzed paperbark ... couldn't get to the wood, was like 4" of flaking papery crap (zero grip) and had to get my line up high and air hump to some branches. But it was a TD.

I'm sure dudes spike those Doug firs all the time.

treefeller · 20th September 2007, 11:19 AM

Only ever spike on takedowns, if limbs are to high i use a throw line. A tree firm on London lost a contract in Kensington a few years back as an arnb officer caught a climber 5' off the ground trying to spike up a London plane..

bigshea13 · 6th November 2007, 09:31 AM

where i come from we are required to obtain on average 1mile of utility line clearance per 40 hours. i dont know what its like around the rest of the world but in ny, especially northern ny, thats not humanly possible without the use of hooks. sure they may leave the tree suseptable to possible infection and they may become an eyesore if not properly placed..but those are acceptable setbacks to deal with considering the fact that every day we perform large scale surgery over lines withholding up to 115 thousand volts of potential. say what you want fellas but in my book that earns me the right to gaff. consideration is made for every situation especially those that may be in a yard or within public viewing.
another thing to consider before closing the book on hooks is that in a lot of situations the person that may have the problem tree may not be able to afford a reasonable rate for the job .so most of the time they they just dont have that hanger removed over the drive.. hell its ok its 60 feet up,...theyll be careful. next thing you know their kid gets smucked. but if someone would be willing to climb up there for nickles theyll have it done.
thats where the debate begins. do i walk away and leave an inevitable danger or do i use a tool that enables me to perform the work in 1/3 of the time and do it for nickles{removing the danger}

Ekka · 6th November 2007, 10:12 PM

I hear you, and I still haven't voted.

In this post by Sean is a PDF that talks about bleeding but also mentions how thick bark can be.

Why is it so?? Ironbarks bleeding that is.

playfordtree · 6th November 2007, 11:39 PM

Great thread, very contentious issue.

personally, i have never used them for a prune.

but bigshea13 makes a valid point

the sad thing is that the people who need to hear this message (hacks & homeowners) will probably never see this thread.

View Poll Results: Is it ok to use spurs when prunning ?
ok if used for power line clearence ?	2	3.28%
Ok if the price is cheaper for homeowner ?	2	3.28%
Ok if used a ladder for the frist 20 feet so mark arent seen?	1	1.64%
If spurs make the climb safer it is OK ?	8	13.11%
Only hacks use spikes to prune trees ?	50	81.97%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll

18th September 2007, 05:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
osb_mail Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 201	your take on pruning with spurs on I live in city that many tree companys prune with spurs on . OK just for powerline clearance ? Ok if homeowner cant see spike marks because climbed with a ladder first 20 feet ? OK if the homeowner gets a cheaper price if you use spurs ? OK if it makes the climb safer ? not acceptable in any case ?

18th September 2007, 06:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
mdvaden Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 543	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on I quit subcontracting to one man whom I saw using a ladder to 20' to hide the gouges. __________________ ____________________________________ Grove of Redwood TITANS Oregon BIGOOT trap

18th September 2007, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
rangitata Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland Posts: 65	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on No under any circumstances. Blokes have been dismissed for less Total Unprofessional, Unsightly and unnecessary. Only time the spurs come out of the bag is when the tree is getting removed. BUT THEN THERE IS COCOS PALMS Mike

18th September 2007, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
JayD Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 941	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on I second That.... Only for takedowns!! And ofcorse Rescue..then it's a race against time and the only thing that matters is the injured person. __________________ Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory

18th September 2007, 10:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,933	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on I haven't voted yet coz I clean palms with spurs. So, what's the alternative? Cherry picker, climbing clamps ($2.5K) rope over and dangle etc. What about of you had to work on a 250' regnans, first branch 100', most would spur. Hard for me to answer with a 100% no or yes, circumstances and common sense dictate here, what if spiking never pentrated thick bark through to cambium? Pine trees, gum trees such as ironbark, red gum etc, sorry, I know you want an answer from those options but I see too many differering situations ... of course I'd never spur some thin barked ornamental specimen but what if I was a seed collector or wildlife catcher? __________________ 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 \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

19th September 2007, 03:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
fatkoala Sappling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mildura Posts: 27	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Did some wildlife catching work catching koalas (to desex) on Kanagaroo Is SA for govt. The team caught over 1000 koalas not one tree spured.

19th September 2007, 06:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
TreeCo Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 259	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Only hacks use spikes to prune trees.

19th September 2007, 06:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
osb_mail Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 201	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on md vaden the same kind of stuff people do around here .My thoughts are if you really don't think spikes hurt trees than why not spike the whole tree I would guess the bottom 20ft would be less effected than the top part just my guess ???

19th September 2007, 10:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,933	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Hey, I spike cocos palms that's all. Personally I reckon the spikes should have a hollow centre and be pressurized with round-up so as I go up I give them a good dose. But I read some stuff on guys spiking other trees and the spikes only gauge the bark, bark is very thick. Today I had my longest gaffs on and tried to spike up the bottom 2m of this big azzed paperbark ... couldn't get to the wood, was like 4" of flaking papery crap (zero grip) and had to get my line up high and air hump to some branches. But it was a TD. I'm sure dudes spike those Doug firs all the time. __________________ 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 \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

20th September 2007, 11:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
treefeller Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cheshunt Posts: 86	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Only ever spike on takedowns, if limbs are to high i use a throw line. A tree firm on London lost a contract in Kensington a few years back as an arnb officer caught a climber 5' off the ground trying to spike up a London plane.. __________________ Copper Beech Tree Works Hertfordshire www.copperbeechtreeworks.sampasite.com

6th November 2007, 09:31 AM	#14 (permalink)
bigshea13 Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hiding Posts: 378	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on where i come from we are required to obtain on average 1mile of utility line clearance per 40 hours. i dont know what its like around the rest of the world but in ny, especially northern ny, thats not humanly possible without the use of hooks. sure they may leave the tree suseptable to possible infection and they may become an eyesore if not properly placed..but those are acceptable setbacks to deal with considering the fact that every day we perform large scale surgery over lines withholding up to 115 thousand volts of potential. say what you want fellas but in my book that earns me the right to gaff. consideration is made for every situation especially those that may be in a yard or within public viewing. another thing to consider before closing the book on hooks is that in a lot of situations the person that may have the problem tree may not be able to afford a reasonable rate for the job .so most of the time they they just dont have that hanger removed over the drive.. hell its ok its 60 feet up,...theyll be careful. next thing you know their kid gets smucked. but if someone would be willing to climb up there for nickles theyll have it done. thats where the debate begins. do i walk away and leave an inevitable danger or do i use a tool that enables me to perform the work in 1/3 of the time and do it for nickles{removing the danger}

6th November 2007, 10:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,933	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on I hear you, and I still haven't voted. In this post by Sean is a PDF that talks about bleeding but also mentions how thick bark can be. Why is it so?? Ironbarks bleeding that is. __________________ 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 \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

6th November 2007, 11:39 PM	#16 (permalink)
playfordtree Mature tree Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide Australia Posts: 340	Re: your take on pruning with spurs on Great thread, very contentious issue. personally, i have never used them for a prune. but bigshea13 makes a valid point the sad thing is that the people who need to hear this message (hacks & homeowners) will probably never see this thread. __________________ I Drink Therefore I am.