Recycling and Bio Diversity

We are constantly striving to prune trees leaving them in a safe and attractive form. Occasionally we are asked to prune a tree which has been part of a hedge or topped (see fig 1&4), is excessively crown raised (see fig 2) or crown thinned (see fig 3) (lions tailing), left to grow out of control its limbs are normally over extended with weak branch unions.

Snapped out over extended re growth caused by topping cut on poplar	Figure 1
Excessive crown raise with stubs and rips	Figure 2
Lions tailing	Figure 3
Topping, tipping	Figure 4

Figure 4 Topping, tipping
In this instance the tree may be suitable for what is called crown restoration.
We climb through out the tree inspecting and pruning out weak branch unions reducing and thinning over extended limbs. Always ensuring no more than 30% of the foliage is removed at any growing season.
This leaves the tree in a safer more attractive form. However not all trees are suitable for such treatment some are in such a bad state that all we can recommend is felling or monolith. (see fig 5)
We would prefer not to fell your trees and monolith is bad for trees and is considered ugly. If you live in a close urban environment with few trees then I would recommend felling and re planting with a more suitable species. However if you live in a more spacious wooded leafy type environment and your trees have limited public view monolith may be an answer. I shall explain my reasoning.

Fell and re plant
If you have paid someone to top or excessively crown raise crown thin (lion’s tail) your tree the result you desire will probably not be achieved, normally lions tailing or topping is done because it’s the wrong type of tree in the wrong place. Lions tailing and topping only creates one of two results, degeneration creation of a dangerous tree or extreme re growth response by a tree in good condition to excessive reduction of canopy size, both results are undesirable.
We can fell your tree, stump grind, landscape and re plant advising on a suitable species.
After stump grinding in order to replant straight away the resulting stump chip from the operation needs to be removed and a quality top soil replaced.
Or we can create a wood carving from your remaining stump.

Monolith a tree
To monolith a tree with over extended limbs we reduce back to the stem all the limbs. If the tree does not die it will have to be maintained on a 3 year cycle cutting back to new wood.
We have found in our experience this process creates cavities and rot throughout the tree, from crown to stem.

Monolith ash

Figure 5

We have also found a degraded root system from stump grinding such trees.

Fallen Lime with Ustulina Deusta

Figure 6

So why carry out such a procedure?
As tree surgeons we want to create a diverse environment. By maintaining safe standing dead wood and hedgerow stumps. Monolith can be a way of achieving this satisfying the customer’s needs and increasing biodiversity within the urban environment.

When is a tree a hedge and a hedge a tree?
Beech and Oak are species of tree that are normally only associated with individual planting but they make attractive and interesting hedges.
When in a young stage the leaves of these trees remain on the tree throughout the winter months due to the failure of the abscission layer. When mature, pruned hard the re growth exhibits the same habit, forming a dense barrier throughout the winter.
Chamaecyparis spp. (conifers) and Thuja plicata spp. (western red cedar) are ideal hedge plants and western red cedar can be pruned right back to the stem with re growth sprouting from the stem.

Hedges and heading cuts
Figure 7 shows an old heading cut on a beech tree within a large beech hedge. The resulting rot from the heading cut has degraded,
Insect’s larvae have inhabited the resulting rot, birds then feed on the insects and the cycle of life continues.

Old heading cut	Figure 7
Staghorn Beetles larvae live in decaying tree stumps	Figure 8

Often you find self seeded ash sycamore and the like growing through your hedge, to maintain uniformity you may wish to fell these, by controlling re growth with a plant protection product leaving the stumps within your hedge you promote such insects as the staghorne beetle whose larvae live in decaying tree stumps.

Nitrogen cycle	Figure 9
Effects of mulch on fibrous roots	Figure 10

We can feed your hedge with the wood chip from your own garden and as this degrades it creates not only a nitrogen source for your plants but habitat for fungi and soil microbes etc.
Mulch applied to the base of your trees within the drip area greatly increases the fibrous root system of your trees. (See fig 10)

1.Ustulina deusta is one such fungus that can enter through wounding on the stem and roots.

ASG Tree Services undertake tree work from small woodlands down to patio gardens.Each job receives our expert advice and free quotation with prices that are hard to beat. We are available anytime. We have listed our more popular services but please call us with any tree problem you may have and we will give it our fullest attention.

For people who really care about their work contact ASG Tree Services.

Office: 0800 404 6978