Reduction Cuts = Retrenchment Pruning

[guymayor]

Yesterday I climbed a baldcypress that is under transmission lines so it's in an ongoing court battle.

The tree's response to last year's pruning puts the lie to the myth that reduction cuts to buds and small laterals aka "footing cuts" will trigger wild sprouting and rampant decay.

Last June I told their lawyers the pruning would provide 5 years' clearance and so far that looks about right. They may still try to make a case for removal but this evidence will not favor their cause.

In the last pic, it's the L-shaped tree on the right.

 

[JD3000]

Guy, where do you sit on the Cambistat fence in situations like this?

 

[guymayor]

Sitting on fence sounds very painful!

That was specified for both trees. Definitely underused in utility work.

 

[Redtree]

I thought I had work hands. Guy, your hands show as much experience as your words. Nice pics. I think the cut diameter saves over reaction too. Looks like 3-6 inch as opposed to 6-12 inch. Reaction Depends a lot on species I guess too. If it's anything like white cedar I'm assuming it can easily handle the wounds, regardless of how quickly it closes over with woundwood. Guy, do you think there is an invigorating affect due to reduction, which may also help codit defend the wound sites? Compared with more stressful pruning methods. Does Having less foliage with shorter transport lines improve physiology? Is physiology the right word? Would the next set of cuts be made a couple of feet above/beyond old cuts? And lastly, would you cut below the odd 2 inch cut to a 3 inch diameter? Or something like that?


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[guymayor]

I thought I had work hands. Guy, your hands show as much experience as your words. Nice pics. I think the cut diameter saves over reaction too. Looks like 3-6 inch as opposed to 6-12 inch.

4" was biggest and that was the central leader.

Reaction Depends a lot on species I guess too. If it's anything like white cedar I'm assuming it can easily handle the wounds, regardless of how quickly it closes over with woundwood. Guy, do you think there is an invigorating affect due to reduction, which may also help codit defend the wound sites?

Yes it came back stronger than I expected for a June prune.

Compared with more stressful pruning methods. Does Having less foliage with shorter transport lines improve physiology?
Is physiology the right word?

Yes and yes; see daVinci, goethe, Coder...

Would the next set of cuts be made a couple of feet above/beyond old cuts? And lastly, would you cut below the odd 2 inch cut to a 3 inch diameter? Or something like that?

No and no; It looks like restoration from here on, aka thinning and reduction of sprouts.


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