Modern Arboriculture vs. A New Tree Biology and Dictionary

The two books are quite distinct from each other, but follow the same arc.

I'd say, go with the order in which he wrote them. Modern Arboriculture won't be nearly as powerful if the reader hasn't gone through A New Tree Biology. Both books enrich my life daily through a greater understanding of what is happening all around me all the time.

I'll back away and let the practitioners talk about applications. I have one of the cushy, egghead jobs.
 
KT hit it pretty well. Dr. Shigo gave the "why" we do, not just the "how". Many younger arborists know and understand how to make proper cuts, few know why, and that is just the starting point with the work Dr. Shigo did. It will change your outlook and how you do your work.
 
In the spirit of following the flow of discovery, the reader may be interested in the Shigo and Larsen 1969 color photoguide here which was quite radical for its day and available for free here. Keep in mind it is a very large file and really needs to be downloaded rather than simply viewing in the cloud. Don't be deterred by slight differences in language. Co-author Larsen was not a researcher but an editor who was charged with keeping Shigo in his lane. So this guide was for field foresters. No intent to introduce these notions to urban tree care. For those with a more research bent, I recommend his formal review from 1984, also linked here for free. That latter publication was also constraining, in Shigo's mind. This is all a long way to say that that is why Shigo chose the self-publication route.
 
Great advice everyone, thank you so much.

Any other recommendations for books on taking care of mature trees/how that sort of maintenance differs from younger trees?
 
In the mid 80s my career was in the Perfect Storm of influencers Lots of changes with personal realization that I was a hack, Shigos coming on the scene and gear improvements specifically for tree work. What a time to come if age

Shigos books were bought, autographed and slowly read. While working in the trees I’d see something that I read about. The ground crew was asked to save the samples so I could dissect ghrm vertically on advice from Shigo. That’s how I put the book learning with Touching Trees.

To this day I’m sure there are many pages in the two books that I’ve never grokked. Having both and trying to read cover to cover is a good idea. Few arbos that I know have ever done that.

Get both and have your highlighters handy! I like to add the date too any highlighting too. Fun to leave bread crumbs behind.

A good way to find used books is ‘ABE books’ You can set up a notification email for each book you’re seatching
 
A good amount of the Gilman materials were free online, at least approx 5 years ago, maybe more. They seemed focused on tree types with a central leader.
 
Bart_ said:
A good amount of the Gilman materials were free online, at least approx 5 years ago, maybe more. They seemed focused on tree types with a central leader.
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That is certainly a primary focus because, I assume:
1) most trees are stronger that way
2) this is where proper pruning has been lacking

His book covers more than pruning to a central leader.

Here is the gateway for much of the stuff Gilman's publications that are free through UF: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/index.shtml
 
Tom Dunlap said:
In the mid 80s my career was in the Perfect Storm of influencers Lots of changes with personal realization that I was a hack, Shigos coming on the scene and gear improvements specifically for tree work. What a time to come if age

Shigos books were bought, autographed and slowly read. While working in the trees I’d see something that I read about. The ground crew was asked to save the samples so I could dissect ghrm vertically on advice from Shigo. That’s how I put the book learning with Touching Trees.

To this day I’m sure there are many pages in the two books that I’ve never grokked. Having both and trying to read cover to cover is a good idea. Few arbos that I know have ever done that.

Get both and have your highlighters handy! I like to add the date too any highlighting too. Fun to leave bread crumbs behind.

A good way to find used books is ‘ABE books’ You can set up a notification email for each book you’re seatching
[/QUOTE

A trip down memory lane Tom
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