Pruning Cedrus in California

russelltree

russelltree

Location
New Sealand
Hello,
I'm working on some large cedars, 50" dbh and up and I'm wondering how to handle them. I am at Stanford University in CA, just south of San Francisco, real long growing season.
The trees are massive and there are some really long and heavy limbs. I'm wondering how to go about pruning these to eliminate some of the endweight of the long, heavy limbs but I've been told to just take snips off the ends of everything. You can imagine the sight when it's done.
We are using a bucket truck with hydraulic snips so it's easy to get to the majority of the tree. The are nearly 80 to 100 feet tall.
I'm looking for a little information from anyone who has dealt with these trees before. Any insights of suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not particularly crazy about the taking snips (3-4 feet) off of everything I can reach.
Thanks for your help.
Russell.
 
I've worked on many large cedrus, as well as other conifers. As a last resort, I will cut the end off a branch. But it is better to do end weight reduction. Typically, a mature tree has side branches, so a shortening cut can be made to a lateral. Hpwever, if the branch is not overly long, I prefer to thin the entire branch, making a few medium cuts, and many small ones, perhaps with a pole saw. Here's a Douglas fir after we took close to 30% out, as all branches needed lightening to reduce snow and wind loading.
 

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i agree with roger. as with mosr conifers, you can reduce length and or weight by pruning the end back to a lateral. and again, any heading cut is a bad cut
 
...but Mark, stupid people don't learn from their mistakes. You said it quite well in an article you wrote some time ago but not in those exact words. If I could only remember that article title and the specific magazine and issue it was in I could prove you said it yourself.

Joe
 
Yeah, but I still like the saying. I said it to my wife one time and she said that it was almost poetic. This weekend I used it on Tom Dunlap when I was out at his place and he said I should use it for my signature. So, for awhile, here it is...
 
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