seattle freezes - thoughts on pruning?

[Sylvia]

Kathy, I know I'm a bit of a "day late and a dollar" short on this discussion, but I will point out the key factor in this question to me is that this is an unusual occurance for your area.

Shigo, and others, point out that trees will seal faster when they are actively growing. So for general information you can go with that.

If your area suffers an extraordinarily hard freeze, where one is not typical, then I would tread softly. (This advice was given by another poster...I lost track of who said what...so am backing his advice there.) The difference is that he mentioned exotics but this advice isn't directed solely at borderline hardy trees. An unusual cold snap will hit the native trees as well simply because they are not accustomed to it.

So pick and choose your "victims". If someone is expressing concern, why not wait and see what ramifications the weather had. Corrections may then be made. What you do not want to do, is trim the tree only to go back in the spring and find a bunch of die back; thereby possibly taking off a great deal more than you would have.

Sylvia

 

[KevinS]

cleats on boots and learn to climb on your ropes more than your trees but remember they can get brittle so tie in a bit bigger than usual

 

[tomthetreeman]

I know it's not directly answering your post, but it may apply indirectly... I have firsthand experience with pruning maples when the sap is running the heaviest (late January-late March). The running sap prevents the cut from closing properly, and eventually leaves a 'wedge' of rotting wood, and in the end the wound looks like a slab cut or flush cut. The same thing occurs with birch.

Kathy, not sure when the sap runs heaviest out there, but I would advise against pruning maple and birch when it is.

-Tom

 

[Kathy_Holzer]

thanks everyone for the thought provoking replies. my instinct was more or less what sylvia said - tread lightly, with natives and imports alike. fortunately (!!?) it's raining again and 45 so there ya go. back to the goretexpolypropylenecoldwetfingers pruning and climbing we're used to...
cheers!
k.

 

[Butterfly]

Hey Kathy I finally made it on! Wish I could be up there to help. Speaking of which I'll be up there in May! Can't wait 2 meet u in person. I'm not jealous of your weather but I am Jealous of your Trees! Good luck on your research!