New climber looking for advice

I agree with @evo that it is a cabling, reduction, and possibly bracing affair. A dinner plate wound will start large decay processes.

Depending on sunlight/cardinal direction, the reduction has to include adjacent crown material to make sure the limb doesn't die off from lack of light, or keep overextending.
 
Title should read inexperienced pruner needs advice, honestly. Learn about pruning. Cutting live wood hurts trees. You need to understand this. Is some pruning tolerable? Certainly.


A newbie rigging a big leader in 3 pieces???????????

Butt-hitch and cut small!!! Keep all loaded ropes below and away from you.
What is beneath the limb?
 
You've mentioned watching more what not to do videos, and learning what not to chop off of your tree.

Be sure to find proper training on what to do, more than not.
Chop nothing. Use a saw. Learn how to prune, rather than what not to do.

Keep asking away. Wealth of knowledge here.

Consider hiring an arborist for a consult. Make a map. List goals. Write down specific questions, general, and per tree. General health, risk factors, longevity, concealed defects, root zone questions, etc.
 
Duly noted, southsound. I wouldn't attempt this job on my own yet, but still wanted to bounce the scenario off of the vets here.

When you say keep all loaded ropes below and away... I understand installing the block (or a redirect) away so that neither the rope nor the limb swing back towards the climber nor the ground guy, but I think everything I've watched shows the block to be above the climber. By chance would you have a link handy to demonstrate?

A consult is not a bad idea at all, and it looks like there are plenty of ISA certified arborists in the area.

As I was typing this, my climbing gear arrived! So excited...can't wait for my first 3 foot climb this afternoon! Be prepared for some gear setup questions.
 
I could stop out by ya and give you some advice, talk climbing, and let ya try out a few climbing devices before you buy. I'm in Racine County too, where exactly are you?(you can pm me) I'm super swamped right now and don't have much free time but might be able to squeeze something in. I'm a ISA CA as well.

Advice: read the tree climbers companion a few times before you leave the ground and understand proper pruning techniques before you go hacking your trees up and do irreversible harm.
 
Well look at that, same city and generous enough to offer up a visit...wow. PM sent!

So with my last few minutes of sunlight, I tossed the line over a 6 foot limb and proceeded with climb one...the mosquitoes eventually won the fight, but I got a few trips in before they did their damage.

1. The whole hip thrust and pull method...a lot harder than it looks on YT and quite a workout.
2. I was worried about descending, but it's really rather easy to control.
3. This is going to be so much fun.
 
AntelopeRunner said:
Well look at that, same city and generous enough to offer up a visit...wow. PM sent!

So with my last few minutes of sunlight, I tossed the line over a 6 foot limb and proceeded with climb one...the mosquitoes eventually won the fight, but I got a few trips in before they did their damage.

1. The whole hip thrust and pull method...a lot harder than it looks on YT and quite a workout.
2. I was worried about descending, but it's really rather easy to control.
3. This is going to be so much fun.
Click to expand...
Baby steps :)
 
Antelope, it's negative rigging. If you catch the top of the tree on the top of the trunk, like a single leader conifer, for example, you're negative rigging/ negative blocking.

Higher force on the rigging point, but easier to not get fouled in ropes. Go small, repeat.
Your climbing system can be above, all of your rigging below.

Maybe you don't have room. Top rig it in small pieces. Watch out for everything as you plan it, and what ifs.



Some tip reduction pruning and light thinning of that leader will help keep it strong and healthy.

Small pruning wounds in the right anatomical places over big wack wounds.


The tree will still be there in three months, don't have to start cutting yet. Baking soda on the roof kills moss inexpensively.
 
Baking soda...no kidding, thanks for that tip!

I'll do some continued research on negative rigging today...now that I think about it, I have seen someone take down a conifer that way on YT.

You're absolutely right, and I'm no real hurry to cut into my maples. I'm assuming one summer of limited light conditions won't really impact the spruce trees too badly, and I've read that it's not a great idea to cut the maples until Oct or Nov when they are dormant again.

I'll get an experienced eye on the property to assess my situation prior to cutting. For now, it's learning to climb and enjoying the new gear and hobby!
 
AntelopeRunner said:
...1. The whole hip thrust and pull method...a lot harder than it looks on YT and quite a workout...
Click to expand...

Yep...get a foot ascender...later, add a knee ascender. This will also set you up to switch to an SRT rope walker system with the addition of an ascender/descender (rope wrench, rope runner, hitch hiker 2, bulldog bone, etc) and most likely a different rope.

Sooner or later you will need a second throw line to set your rope to retrieve the first throw line after you get the first one hung up in the tree. Get it before you need it! It's also possible to get the rope hung up while trying to set or retrieve it and require a second rope to climb up and free it. Same advice...get it before you need it. I strongly recommend the second rope be one made for SRT like one of the Yale 11.7mm ropes.
 
AntelopeRunner said:
Baking soda...no kidding, thanks for that tip!

I'll do some continued research on negative rigging today...now that I think about it, I have seen someone take down a conifer that way on YT.

You're absolutely right, and I'm no real hurry to cut into my maples. I'm assuming one summer of limited light conditions won't really impact the spruce trees too badly, and I've read that it's not a great idea to cut the maples until Oct or Nov when they are dormant again.

I'll get an experienced eye on the property to assess my situation prior to cutting. For now, it's learning to climb and enjoying the new gear and hobby!
Click to expand...
It is so refreshing to find someone who is looking to learn.
Keep the questions coming.
 
If you're looking for a good overview of tree pruning to get you started, you can check out the Professor Ed Gilman online course, Module 10: Pruning, here:

https://www.educatedclimber.com/dr-gilman-teaching-series-module-10-pruning/

Between Alex Shigo and Ed Gilman, you can find everything you need to know about pruning concepts, goals, and techniques.

Getting that work done in a tree when you are dangling from a little nylon rope, however, is a whole different story. Patience is the key. It takes years to learn this stuff.

Hope this helps.

Patrick
 
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Please don't take this the wrong way.
Why climb if you don't have to?
That limb looks fairly accessible from the ground, could you use a pole saw?
I'd just be nervous trying to rig such small diameter stuff.
Just my opinion
 
Tripp1 said:
Please don't take this the wrong way.
Why climb if you don't have to?
That limb looks fairly accessible from the ground, could you use a pole saw?
I'd just be nervous trying to rig such small diameter stuff.
Just my opinion
Click to expand...
Because most tree work occurs above 22'.
Welcome to the buzz.


Edit: I misread that. But still welcome to the buzz ....
 
Thanks for the welcome

Ah, ....more an example than literal, I get it!
Lol, yeah, climbing is half the fun.
Good luck with your endeavors!!
 
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