When the Treaty Oak was poisoned, there was a rush to try to clone it from cuttings. To my knowledge, only one out of dozens produced a tree, which last I heard is still growing in a yard in Travis Heights. The cuttings were taken after the tree appeared to be recovering, so most of the poison...
Another arborist and I here in central Texas have been having a real hard time (as in can't get at all)powder blue nitroform, which we have used for years. We are being told bizarre stories by our supplier that include a: the factories that make it are not making enough and b: they are having a...
As is evidenced by the quotes you printed, Tom, and the other responses, watering advice is all over the map. Obviously where you live, the species and the weather all play a role. I have always recommended an inch per week when not raining here in central TX, but again, so many variables...
Shigo often recommended abstaining from pruning in the fall when he gave lectures. In his "New Tree Biology" he states "be very careful when pruning during leaf shedding... if possible avoid pruning at [this] time" Unfortunately, nowhere in this book does he say why. I seem to recall it having...
Just turned 52. Climbing full time since I was 19. Still do all my own climbing, and wouldn't have it any other way.
Took 2nd in our chapter comp this May (damn ITCC scoring rules on throwing out highest and lowest scores). Was hoping to score my second championship. As a couple of my...
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Actually, that Rope Wrench came courtesy of Kevin Bingham, Treestuff.com, and ABR as part of their support for the Texas Comp.
To say that we are thrilled that you were on the receiving end of it is a HUGE understatement !! Your climbing was truly inspirational....though I am a bit...
Got a Rope Wrench a couple weeks ago, courtesy of Rich H. (for my 2nd place showing at the TX comp, thank you very much). Went out with Crazy Jimmy, Treeweaver and some other guys who showed me how to use it. Very impressive.
It may make an SRT guy out of this old monkey, yet! I have not...
Lion tailing has become the new topping. It has been rampant here in central TX for decades and is getting WORSE. It goes by a variety of names, and is actually sold as a desirable form of pruning by some morons. They call it "tree sculpting", or at least they did, until I started pointing...
We have a fair amount of deodar in central TX, but no Atlas. They are almost always single stem, but occasionally double stem a ways up, probably due to storms. Anyway, from my days back east I remember Atlas cedars looking more like this one, often multi-stem, and with more compact bundles of...
Hey, if I had wanted to freeze my butt off during winter I would have kept doing tree work in Boston. I moved down here to get away from that stuff! Guess I'll have to go to San Diego. Of course, Costa Rica is nice too. Maybe I can work as a zip-line installer.
How 'bout that old school bad boy Jesse Sanchez pulling off a top five finish? He told me his secret weapon is a dozen doughnuts a day! It was great seeing my west chapter buds out there. Really glad I had time to come by. Sorry I couldn't make the masters. Came home to 28 degree weather...
Tobe:
THANK YOU for your commitment to safety in general and for doing these tests. very valuable info. I think bing mentioned some tests where beeline broke right at the end of a non-tapered splice. Kind of looks like that is what the grizzly spliced pieces did, unless I'm missing something.
I like the Petzl Sequoia. Not as versatile as TreeMotion, but a lot less expensive, and one of the lightest saddles on the market. NOT a good saddle for hanging a big saw from for long periods, though. Really more of a "pruning" saddle. But it is super light, comfortable and ergonomically...
can someone tell me when the 2011 geezers is? is there a website? A yahoo search did not find one. Are the rules the same as ITCC? Events the same?
Thanks.
Paul Johnson from the Texas Forest Service and myself will once again be teaching "Tree School" all day on the last day of the conference. It is an introductory course on safety, pruning and biology. It is a separate cost from the conference registration. It is an excellent opportunity for...
I have had a sequoia for about 2 years now, climbing on it 5 days a week, and find the bridge has mininal wear. It's no where near needing replacement as far as I can tell. I think the info about these aramid fiber ropes not being suited to bridges is very, very crucial info. I remember...
I have owned the regular version for two years now. Mostly I like it a lot. On the plus side, very, very lightweight. Ergonomically, I'd give it a "B". A few negatives, tho. First, what the hell is with using plastic on the buckle latches? Yes, plastic. Like a Petzl Ball lock gate...
Re: oak wilt \"sick tree treatment\"
I have dealt with oak wilt since it was definitively identified as such in central TX (over 25 years). There are many, many, MANY variables here. To date, NO, repeat, NO "natural" or "organic" treatment has been shown to do SQUAT. There was someone that...