proper cut

P

pointer

Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Hi folks, long time, no type. I have a question that I'm hoping someone out there can answer for me. My foreman and I have been arguing for a week about how to make the proper cut when removing one-half of a co-dominant stem that has no distinct branch collar to guide you. I was taught that a flat cut at the same level as the branch-bark ridge actually produces less decay. His way is to make an angled cut, as if it were a typical branch. I hope someone has the answer out there. Thanks a million.
 
I'd wanted to say "go to www.treesaregood.com to see a diagram", but they don't have one for what you're wanting.

ANSI A300 (Part 1) says in 5.3.3 "A pruning cut that reduces the length of a branch or parent stem should bisect the angle between its branch bark ridge and an imaginary line perpendicular to the branch or stem."

Glen
 
Thanks Glens, I did know the standard, but I thought I had seen some studies that contradicted, or rather tweeked that standard. I will have to do a little more digging. I could be totally off, college was a while ago. Thanks again.
 
Since codominant stems don't have a branch protection zone (chemical barrier at base of branches that inhibits spread of decay into stem), either cut will produce the same amount of decay in the stem. Wall 1 (up and down the stem) of CODIT is the weakest wall and will allow decay to enter the main stem with either cut. For further information, I suggest consulting "A New Tree Biology" by Dr. Shigo.

-Jarod
 
i would say flat or just above the BBR give the tree more time to compartmentailse?

or am i just talking nonsense

jamie
 
[ QUOTE ]
i would say flat or just above the BBR give the tree more time to compartmentailse?

or am i just talking nonsense

jamie

[/ QUOTE ]

"compartmentailse"? /forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Compartmentalization Of Decay In Trees

4 Walls placed around decay to isolate it in a compartment away from the rest of the tree system; beginning with vertical boundaries that cut off delivery around the whole plant through circulatory system.

Also, giving chemical and anatomical boundary zones. An uninjured branch collar, outside of the BBR can perpetuate the isolation of a limb quicker etc.
 
This question was bugging me so I actually dug into some old class notes and found that lecture. It wasn't any study, but rather the prof's personal opinion. However, his reasoning was quite sound. His idea was that in either case you aren't going to get good compartmentalization, so rather than make an angled cut that has larger surface area, you can make a smaller, flat cut. This really only applies if you're cutting live tissue, because if the piece being removed is dead, then chances are you'll be cutting dead tissue with either cut, but it does make sense for a live piece.
 
I would have to agree with some of this and the disagree. It depends on the species of tree. I have practice both cuts over a twelve year stretch on lrge variety of trees and watched the Callus rolls.only because there city trees and I have made it my own policy to do so whe I can .

On a conifir I have found that it doesn't seem to make much difference, but on a deciduous tree it does.What I have noticed on deciduous trees is that if you make a straight cut, most of the time not always , it will start to callus at the top end ( the ridge area) and then start to die back on the lower end at a angle where you will see the callous start to poke through in a yer or two.This is a good indication where the cut should be in the future for this type of tree.Same goes for when your taking off a so called co dominant limb off a latteral.

Sometimes the collar is very steep ,More so then we think or what appears to be.Ever see a co dom. rip off a tree and then look at it years later to see where the callus roll is ? If it was a fairly clean tear , the callus happens about two thirds around that rip, starting from the top end were the the ridge might be to either side of the tear on the lower end. That would be a flush cut in my opinion, but it is callusing and sometimes with a little bark tracing, that will take care of the rest of it . More so then a straight cut from what I have observed.Especially on larger co. doms.

JUst my opinion and observation over the years.Experiment if you can thats one of the best teachers.

Thanks
Greg
 
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