Coronet Cutting/Fracture Pruning?

[KyLimbwalker]

Which node ?

 

[sean_freeman]

I suspect that the only people who can accurately describe how they decide where they make the final cut and what specifically they are trying to achieve are the crews doing it.

Perhaps post a question on Bulliman's forum there are quite a few threads running on or around the topic, and as I mentioned earlier there are tree crews that have been managing selected trees using these techniques for a few years now.

 

[tomthetreeman]

[ QUOTE ]
Which node ?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a completely tree-specific question; impossible to answer without one or more examples. In some cases, an internodal cut would even be acceptable, if there is no expectation of compartmentalization. The whole 'retrenchment' practice is really just mirroring what trees frequently do on their own... Lose parts of the crown to preserve the core structure and root system.

-Tom

 

[MatShute]

Hello there

I just found this web site by accident and thought I should post as I made this video.

Its interesting to hear your comments on this as we get mixed feed back on this style of work in the UK. As a bit of background, this tree is in a public park which has veteren and champion Oaks. Some of the trees in the park have a history of old fashioned topping style cuts from many years back. This tree had big old topping cuts which had died back leaving dead and dying stubs upto 8m in lenght some had been dead for some time.

We opted to rip cut the limbs to avoid flat style rip cuts. Another advantage of this technique is that by fracture pruning you can place your cuts pretty much where you like, This means sick limbs can go back harder and healthier limbs can be pruned more gently. A real advantage of this work is that you don't need to make any effort to shape a tree-if the limbs healthy leave it.

I would like to upload recent photo of the tree, but cant seem to do so. Hopefully this tree looks more natural in its current state and is "safe" enough for the authority to warant its retention. Personally I feel the rip cuts are an enhancement to the aesthetics of an over mature tree when you compare the very un-natural look of the alternative flat chainsaw cut

One question I have for guys who have problems with this type of cut is this. If you are making cuts of a large enough in diamer or the tree is not vigorous enough to compartmentalise the cuts, then what is the purpose of a target pruning cut.