- Location
- Middlesex
Im really very upset about this. Please try to keep on topic. The property management company will have visibility of this thread so im really looking for your professional opinions. Thanks for the input.
Is this too much pruning?
- Thread starter Poindexter
- Start date
SomethingWitty
Arkansawyer
- Location
- LR
My best advice, then, would be to seek out an ISA certified arborist near you if you're looking for something official.
Us looking at pictures is only worth so much, and I don't believe that there is any real clout in a bunch of us trash talking bad work.
@Jemco is the man, and if he says something positive about it, I am not in a position to argue for much. I'm just killing time in the truck on a 40 hour drive.
Experience has taught me that modern urban landscape environs get so pumped up on fertilizer that many tree species go hog wild, whereas in a natural setting.......
Which makes it ever so much more true, that once you've whacked primary growth back, you've gotta keep on whacking or else.
Feed the trees too much meth n they freak.....
The modern urban environment's alotta things, but natural ain't one of them.
Jemco
Which makes it ever so much more true, that once you've whacked primary growth back, you've gotta keep on whacking or else.
Feed the trees too much meth n they freak.....
The modern urban environment's alotta things, but natural ain't one of them.
Jemco
There are a few things I'll note.
First, the structural defects of that individual tree, and the species profile of maples 8n general both preclude it from ever being allowed to emerge as a full size tree.
The growth can be suppressed through aggressive pruning in one of several styles (retrenchment, pollarding, an infinity of niwaki forms, etc.) and/or by application of paclobutrazol every three years. The current style almost looks like an attempt at forming a large geometric topiary. The defoliation seems a little late in the season, but the fact that they did it would indicate that they have experience, or are dumb - no real room in between. The proof will be in the pudding - what happens to the tree this fall and the coming spring.
There is an extensive precedent in Japan and possibly elsewhere for defoliating ornamental Acer preceding transplanting, so it is very possible that this one will respond just fine.
Lastly, my main critique is that I'm just disappointed that they pruned it into a hot air balloon form. That is unimaginative. But, good luck finding someone who can do better on a rental unit budget - I understand your position.
I would just ask them in an email if the tree is going to survive this pruning, and what they intend to do if it doesn't. Worst case, you'll probably get a free removal out of it. Best case, you've found someone who can do work that is commensurate with your management budget.
Oh, you can buy the ANSI A300 and accompanying best management practices booklet. These will show that the pruning should not exceed 1/4 of the canopy and a few other things like that. I wouldn't sweat this too much though, since the tree has baseline structural issues.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
That's a nice job of creating future woodpecker habitat, but I think it's misleading to call it "pruning", myself. Pruning should be done with a purpose in mind, one that improves aesthetic value, improves the health of the tree, improves the safety of the things around the tree over the long term, or controls the growth of the tree when necessary (keeping the previous concerns at a higher priority).
I don't personally find anything about that job to be acceptable, for any reason. That's an opinion.
Pruning fruit trees in an orchard can look pretty brutal, but the goals are a bit different... increasing fruit production and preventing wind damage to the soft wooded trees can take priority over aesthetics, making the pruning look a bit harsh. The health of the trees is still the main priority and the pruning never looks quite like that. That's no apple orchard. I'm not sure why the property management company would find that acceptable.
I won't comment on whether or not it will survive the work, because I think it is a moot point. That's just a butt ugly thing to do to a landscape tree, period.
I don't personally find anything about that job to be acceptable, for any reason. That's an opinion.
Pruning fruit trees in an orchard can look pretty brutal, but the goals are a bit different... increasing fruit production and preventing wind damage to the soft wooded trees can take priority over aesthetics, making the pruning look a bit harsh. The health of the trees is still the main priority and the pruning never looks quite like that. That's no apple orchard. I'm not sure why the property management company would find that acceptable.
I won't comment on whether or not it will survive the work, because I think it is a moot point. That's just a butt ugly thing to do to a landscape tree, period.
RopeShield
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Your on hear looking for free advice? Again?
This is the service you deserve if you didn't do your homework the first time.
Don't take this personally, the one who gave the go ahead is ultimately responsible.
Fire them and fire the tree surgeaon than sue for loss of property.
cerviarborist
Very stable member
- Location
- Florida, USA
Are you upset enough to pay for a professional opinion and a report of the same, or are you only upset enough to ask questions on a forum web page? Professionals charge fees for site visits, forming professional expert opinions and writing defensible reports delineating them. If you are, then look on www.isa-arbor.com for a certified arborist who does expert witness work, and pay them their fee.
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
First...listen to what Cerviarborist says...spot on advice.
Second..anyone who is familiar with I'net forums will be able to discern between the comments made as jibes at their friends and they professional advice that's offered
On Monday I drove past a house I grew up in. THe guy who taught me treework lived next door. He topped the cottonwoods back in about '68 or so. No one but a person who could read old branch patterns would be able to see that it was topped decades ago. Oh...and no storm damage from bad structure either. This does NOT condone topping though. The knowledge and choices we have today are different than we had decades ago. No different than going to the dentist
TreeVB
Branched out member
- Location
- Boise, Idaho
The OP is calling us tree surgeons which leads me to believe they are in the UK, Australia or New Zealand. With that in mind and the obvious photos this does seem to be what we call a Norway maple. I have spent time in NZ and they call these Sycamore. Also with this in mind, all of those countries are big into pollarding trees so we will have to see what the maintenance plan is over the next few years to really nail down the answer to if this is a bad pruning job or not. I'm guessing cheap work from an un-educated "company". Forgive me if my assumptions are wrong.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
Leaves are wrong for a Norway Maple but look right for a London Plane Tree, to my eye. OP is in England.
I knew he was from UK. They love ladders over there. And vehicle looks like a transit. There favs. And he said tree surgeon....prob a plane tree....now just a fucking eyesore.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
I remember seeing a lot of pollard work there on London Plane trees. Maybe they do that to Sycamore Maples, too. I'm on a little tablet PC tonight, so everything is a bit small and fuzzy. Might be the beers I guzzled to counteract the gallons of coffee I drank today.
But, yeah... not a pretty thing to see.
But, yeah... not a pretty thing to see.
Chaplain242
Branched out member
I actually see this regularly in one form or another, whether it be a wrongly selected tree planted under a powerline, or trying to squeeze a tree into a manicured garden, whereby they must be pruned(hacked) to size.
To me it’s squeeze every year you can out of it, or cull it and plant something more appropriate. Just glad I cant hear the tree scream...
To me it’s squeeze every year you can out of it, or cull it and plant something more appropriate. Just glad I cant hear the tree scream...
