Recycling and Bio Diversity
We fell and prune trees for many different reasons, however the environmental impact may not be as you initially believe. We work to a specification, we want to maintain your tree by mitigating structural failure. Our specifications are designed to benefit the structure and form of trees within the urban setting.
Occasionally we are asked to prune a tree which has been part of a hedge or topped or tipped (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 |
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Lions tailing |
Figure 3 |
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Topping,
tipping |
Figure 4 |
 |
Trees in this condition 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.
However not all trees are suitable for such treatment some are in such a bad state that all we can recommend is felling monolith or create a chainsaw carving. (see fig 6)
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 your tree has no targets (Nothing in its proximity should it fail) and your tree has limited public view monolith may be an answer.
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. This becomes habitat
for birds mammals insects and fungi.
We would like to create a diverse environment. By
maintaining safe standing dead wood and hedgerow stumps. Monolith
can be a way of achieving this satisfying the customers needs and
increasing bio diversity within the urban environment.
Chainsaw
carving |
Figure
6 |
|
Figure 7 shows an old heading cut on beech
within a large beech hedge. The resulting rot from the heading
cut has degraded.
Insect larvae have inhabited the resulting rot, birds then feed
on the insects and the cycle continues.
Old
heading cut in Beech hedge |
Figure
7 |
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Ground Beetles are
common under logs and hedgerows |
Figure 8 |
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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 staghorn beetle whose larvae live in decaying tree
stumps.
Nitrogen
cycle |
Figure
9 |
|
Effects of mulch on
fibrous roots |
Figure 10 |
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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)
In conclusion, we try to maintain trees; "That is we try to keep trees in your garden" by pruning them to meet any concerns you may have. The strategy set out here is controversial as it is of no benefit to individual trees in fact it is detrimental to tree condition and requires a maintenance strategy to mitigate hazard. However standing dead wood is a rarity which is why we prune out dead wood only over targets and recommend in some circumstances brutal heading cuts.
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