This is the most informative and important video on pruning I have ever watched. I have learnt more in this video than in ten years in the Feild. I thank you,
I'm 66 years old and started learning about arbiculture. I've learned to climb trees SRT and DRT and pruning/removing trees. I'm learning all I can on UA-cam and reading your book.
You've mentioned the exception of the Netherlands (as a place where severe raising supposedly doesn't happen) which frankly shocks me as someone living here since 2004. Since around 2013, trees are now routinely topped and lions tailed by the urban municipal workers (with ETT certification). Here is a video of trees lions tailed in 2016 and now in 2022 been 'repaired' with many top heavy tree branches having failed during a recent storm; these previously healthy trees are now severely compromised and have less than 20% of the original crown. Here is the video:
I'm always at odds with co-workers about what constitutes 15% of a tree's foliage. I agree people (including me) can't tell how much it takes to reach that upper limit.
Do these reduction cuts result in stubs sticking up into the sky? Also, one should not freak out if the tree is leaning? I have two trees, two different opinions on them from tree cutters. One says cut them down, the other says 'top' them?!?!
one of the biggest problem I see in this industry is communication, and the fact that no 2 eyes see the same. Reduction can mean many different things to different people and thin does not mean Lion tail. Im an Arborist in SLC and have been doing reduction cuts and weight reduction on many of the Lion Tailed Trees out here.
This is a really interesting discussion with good results, but so much pruning discussion and training still seems to focus exclusively on what to remove rather than what to save and preserve. This feels like the extraction model of tree care. I believe we need to move away from such an extraction approach exclusively (though I see the need for good pruning for safety and structural integrity) to focus also upon what needs to stay and remain protected (in terms of the crown). It is important to know what to remove for optimal safety, but typically most urban trees here in the Netherlands suffer from over pruning even if cuts are correctly executed. So many trees suffer from lions tailing, or over raising, which leads to hollowed out top heavy trees with too little foliage for food production leading to over stressed trees and trees with little resilience against sun or high winds. Let's get back to maintaining balance with the 2 to 1 crown to trunk ratio. Our masculine or standardized approach towards cutting and removing could really benefit from the tree's unique perspective and from a more holistic ecological approach. Let's also not forget the complexity of crown structures for damping in terms of structural integrity during wind. Having smaller branches near the trunk with foliage is not detrimental for wind resistance but necessary (at least according to Ken James).
This is the most informative and important video on pruning I have ever watched. I have learnt more in this video than in ten years in the Feild. I thank you,
Great to know the rule of following the largest at each fork.
Reduction-cut pruning has transformed my understanding and approach, and I am most grateful to Dr. Gilman.
Always learn something from Ed Gilman. Thanks for posting.
Mind blown! Love it.
The importance of everything covered in this video cannot be overstated. The certified arborist exam topics are
I love trees!
amazing conversation.
❤
Thanks for your great educational efforts!
I'm 66 years old and started learning about arbiculture. I've learned to climb trees SRT and DRT and pruning/removing trees. I'm learning all I can on UA-cam and reading your book.
You've mentioned the exception of the Netherlands (as a place where severe raising supposedly doesn't happen) which frankly shocks me as someone living here since 2004. Since around 2013, trees are now routinely topped and lions tailed by the urban municipal workers (with ETT certification). Here is a video of trees lions tailed in 2016 and now in 2022 been 'repaired' with many top heavy tree branches having failed during a recent storm; these previously healthy trees are now severely compromised and have less than 20% of the original crown. Here is the video:
I'm always at odds with co-workers about what constitutes 15% of a tree's foliage. I agree people (including me) can't tell how much it takes to reach that upper limit.
Question:
Do these reduction cuts result in stubs sticking up into the sky? Also, one should not freak out if the tree is leaning? I have two trees, two different opinions on them from tree cutters. One says cut them down, the other says 'top' them?!?!
If I understand correctly commercial pruning sprays and paints are not recommended to be used on pruning cuts. Is this correct?
one of the biggest problem I see in this industry is communication, and the fact that no 2 eyes see the same. Reduction can mean many different things to different people and thin does not mean Lion tail. Im an Arborist in SLC and have been doing reduction cuts and weight reduction on many of the Lion Tailed Trees out here.
This is a really interesting discussion with good results, but so much pruning discussion and training still seems to focus exclusively on what to remove rather than what to save and preserve. This feels like the extraction model of tree care. I believe we need to move away from such an extraction approach exclusively (though I see the need for good pruning for safety and structural integrity) to focus also upon what needs to stay and remain protected (in terms of the crown). It is important to know what to remove for optimal safety, but typically most urban trees here in the Netherlands suffer from over pruning even if cuts are correctly executed. So many trees suffer from lions tailing, or over raising, which leads to hollowed out top heavy trees with too little foliage for food production leading to over stressed trees and trees with little resilience against sun or high winds. Let's get back to maintaining balance with the 2 to 1 crown to trunk ratio. Our masculine or standardized approach towards cutting and removing could really benefit from the tree's unique perspective and from a more holistic ecological approach. Let's also not forget the complexity of crown structures for damping in terms of structural integrity during wind. Having smaller branches near the trunk with foliage is not detrimental for wind resistance but necessary (at least according to Ken James).