TREE DECISIONS Why do you prune?
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- čas přidán 18. 01. 2018
- This is a good one. I hope you find this useful and if you are an owner of a tree company, share it with your crew. The decisions we make can mean the difference in a quality tree or a tree that goes down hill.
I have watched many of your videos, and dropped some scattered comments but I wanted to take the time to thank you for sharing your knowledge with us laypeople.
My wife and I are fortunate to have a 115 acre property in rural WV, with most of it wooded. It has been logged over the years, and hit by numerous ice and wind storms. Some beautiful older trees. You have given me SUBSTANTIAL knowledge to utilize in my decision making process. Some areas are staying natural, some will be a sort of silvopasture, some are being cleared, and some old clearings are being brushed and cleaned up. I have so many decisions I have to make every time I go work out there and you have certainly stopped me from continuing some bad old habits. My stands are going to be healthier. I found hazard trees that I would have NEVER caught. When I do need to prune/trim, I can do so without being an idiot.
I wish I would have found you years ago! Thank you so very much.
I’m glad you have found good value in my efforts to help others understand trees better. Be safe
Blair
This is precisely why I subscribe to your channel...the reason, logic and care you put into your work and then pass this knowledge on. Thank you!
Michael Philip Grauers- I benefited from some amazing mentors when I was young. CZcams allows me to give back in a way that was never before possible for so many people like yourself.
Love this channel, very caring about the work you do. Too many "arborists" running around unaware of what they're doing.
As someone who is mainly interested in buying property with trees and planting new ones in the future when I finally settle down, this information is very valuable. Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos!
foobargorch heart of the country , yes, that is what folks dream about. It is really sad that the exploding economy is making that dream a financial nightmare.
foob - same here, Blair is a solid for this novice as well!
I think your main focus in the beginning of this video is included bark. This is a common problem that alot of people don't understand. Also, teaching people about fungus is a very important thing. Fungus is a sure sign of decay. Theese are two of the most overlooked things in the business. Understanding trees (pruning) is an art. Very under-valued skill. Love your videos. Great content. Thank you!
Empower. The word is empower. And thank you.
I’m not an arborist, but I absolutely enjoy your spreading of knowledge and of course your humanity.
Thanks Ron, I hope your love of trees brings you back
arboristBlairGlenn I’ve been here a long time. Not going away. Cheers, Blair.
"Empower".....one of those types of terms that I have no use for.
Samuel Luria are you thinking of enable?
accountabilityexperts.com/accountability-posts/what-is-the-difference-between-empowering-and-enabling/
No, I'm a big fan of enabling, and enablers....😜
Hey BG, just had opportunity to speak with one of historic Oak Park Illinois supervising Arborist. While one neighborhood there was undergoing four year pruning cycle completed by contractors...which ironically are a local tree care company that have earned themselves ISA "Municipality" accreditation. I pointed to lower portion of multi stemmed parkway tree (Not a one stemmed lifted tree, getting all lower laterals removed ), which had just had every small branch removed 15 feet and lower from ground...and said "Why do pruning specifications call for dyslexic small branch removal, like a Giraffe fed on bottom of tree"? In a funny way, not to be sarcastic. He then looked at tree and said, "I still see plenty of small branches retained for trees health higher up"! As removing all would be called Lion tailing. For first time since suggesting some Arborist commonly "Take too much off of tree", I now realize that they assume I was talking about larger branch removal which is many times required for clearance. (This Default pruning style may be only thing todays municipalities can do to public trees, but then why is same default pruning OK for Park or back yard trees which do not face same exaggerated clearance issues?) One of the most beautiful things on a tree to me, can be those individual lower branches that are "presently becoming outlawed"!
So I then explained to him how trees grown in an open urban environment setting need a few smaller branches retained for shading sun, and for increase in girth and taper. For healthy production of "Secondary growth". Otherwise result is "Dysfunctional" tissue on that portion void of all small branch growth. I even call this method "Scam pruning", since customers have to call back to have all the epicormic regrowth removed. Then Arborist agree with customers, stating that regrowth is weakly attached and must be removed. So its like shaving, once you do it, one must continue shaving for rest of life. I also told him how Epicormic regrowth can be an Arborists friend, and some slower growing ones that do strengthen their attachment with age, need to be retained.
Today many Horticulturists assume regrowth is produced by reawakened buds, taking advantage of open sunlight. When fact is, its tree's emergency regrowth, attempting to reshade limbs from harmful sunlite. I also revealed to him my observations on how when trunks or limbs are rotting out, that small branches or Epicormic shoots help increase girth of new growth rings. Which are only thing structurally keeping trunk solid, like a thicker tube. And I have also come to realize that it's not so much that trees in forest settings are slower growers, producing thinner rings compared to urban examples. But it's because forest trees lack lateral growth along their tall thin trunks, which do not get hit by direct sunlight. So rings are thinner as well. Another point he did agree with, is how trees structurally pruned for apical dominance and one main leader when young. Survive lifetime of crown liftings much better than naturally modified urban examples which produce multiple leaders and become "Round headed". Especially because when opening up and thinning out crowded crown of poorly structured trees...(Crowded crowns that resemble a trunk sneezing out multiple leaders pointing skyward, or look like a bush on a stick). [Poorer the neighborhood or country, more multiple leadered the public trees crowns are.]
...Most of the removals made to open up crown, are made to smaller competing sub limbs which have no branch collar type attachment. Plus I informed him how contractors pruning 20 year old trees which did not undergo formative pruning, always fail to even subordinate or head back any competing leaders. (Job security?!?) Which would let tree deal with bad attachment problem, by slowing down growth ratio. (No longer "Including bark" in attachments future growth process) In the end I also informed him of my hope for future contractor pruning cycle methods, that will also require worker to check base of tree for any possible girdling root growth needing removal, which will take one min. longer at most. And how municipalities will need to buy mobile air compressors, so summer interns can blow away any accumulating mulch/soil from base of young trees. But that timely removal of landscape walls filled up with soil for plants, built around base of public trees. Is too much work, even though practice is today's number one easiest way to kill a tree. Boy, it's so great to "Know", rather than assume why some Municipalities prune the way they do!
CONCERTMANchicago good observations and well thought out explanation
"...just had opportunity to speak with...historic Oak Park.... supervising Arborist." Did he walk away or run like hell after meeting you!? Hah! This Chicagoan has very similar issues with care, treatment & obvious neglect of municipal trees in our second home in Wisconsin; this greenhorn sees a lot of neglected very young & very old trees, many butchered by the electric company, absolutely breaks my heart. Aaaaaah, Oak Park, gorgeous old town with great old trees. Are you an Arborist Concert Man? Could you educate me on a walk in Oak Park someday? Thanks for your lengthy reply CM - I'll be picking through it to further my fledgling Arboriculture self education. THANKS from Wicker Park & Beloit, Wis.
Thank you for the information. I'm just starting out and it's important for me to understand proper decision making when planning cuts.
This is an awesome series!! Please, more of these!! :D
This was another fantastic video, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and for promoting rational decision making.
i continue to learn from watching your videos an you mentioned videos on how to identify different trees I would like that a lot thanks again
Thank you for the knowledge that you add for us in each video
Very informative. I appreciate your insight. Keep up the good work and fighting the good fight.
Mike DeMarco just wish the channel would grow faster. I want to know that there are more people who are really interested in knowledge of trees.
Great video, we have to make these decisions every day, will be required viewing for the team from now on, thanks mate.
Trees woods & forest gardens - agroforestry arboriculture Thanks, I would appreciate feedback on what they say about this video.
This is a good one. Think I’ll find the rest of your decision making ones. I like the kind of comments where you tell us why you cut it a certain way and what kind of cuts you leave for next time (and how far away that might be).
great ideas giving me lot of motivation to share good information.
most excellent information ..
thanks blair. these videos are always the gems plus it was cool having caleb.
Eduardo Sida Kalen has come far. He is a sharp kid. Chip off the old block😊
arboristBlairGlenn calen! i thought this whole time it was caleb lol!
Great video!!!
I’m amazed that there aren’t any requirements for training before anyone can hang out a shingle claiming to be an arborist. I see so many trees butchered by companies with day workers....it’s just disgusting
Arborist Certification is important and recognized by larger organizations and municipalities. Homeowners mostly looking for lowest cost.
Very good video thank you! I would have handled the first pruning problem on the pistache tree a little differently. I would have slated the lower branch for eventual removal. I would have stunted its growth by removing portions of it that were interfering with light getting to the other portion and also Those portions that were too low for clearance issues. The result would be that that lower Branch would grow at a slower rate than the other. Any water sprouts that would grow would most likely be growing on the portion slated for removal. I would continue to whittle away that unwanted portion every year I worked on the tree. Once the undesirable branch is a much smaller diameter than the other, then I would completely remove the undesirable Branch at the branch collar. On the second tree, first problem, I would have removed portions of the bark included branch that were interfering with light getting to more desirable portions without removing enough to compromise that branch. As to the birch trees it is noteworthy that the trunk doing the best was planted at the highest level. Most trees are buried too deep and are consequently always stressed and invite insect infestation and other problems. My main goal in pruning is to develop or maintain a strong central leader because this is the strongest configuration for a tree to grow. This is of course the way they grow in the wild, the forest. Forest mimicry. Keep up the good work
Dude this is awesome, totally helpful, thinking/talking through the whole decision-making process, various options and things to weigh....thank you!!
Glad you found this video valuable.
As an Aussie, I was cringing big time when you were poking your finger into those holes. Don't want to try that over here, you could have a very bad day!
Jedda73 guess you have some pretty venomous snakes and spiders Down under! We don’t
Raccoons.
Porcupines.
tree sharks! lmao
Fantastic
Love the subject matter
Thanks
grace rose Grace was my grandmothers name 😊
Awesome video Blair. I'll be using this at our next safety meeting to address a couple of concerns I have with choices. Each cut is a choice, and I'd like my guys to understand why the choices they make now will potentially affect the tree for years to come.
That would make me very happy
I love your channel.
Thanks Chris
Ladders are too dangerous to work off of when you're pruning tree's, get that man a saddle and some ropes! Very informative video and it was definitely a good watch!
Ladders are not the problem. It’s not knowing how to work with ladders that get people hurt. Kind of like saying cars are too dangerous.
I also like to see the techniques used in efficient work.
Fun fact Blair: in the cold climate of northern sweden the birch decays slowly and is onsiderd to be pretty safe even when it starts to die.
Pontus Eriksson wow, I’m surprised by that. We have completely different reactions with this “transplanted from it’s native habitat” tree. If a tree needs cold climate, and you plant it in warm climate, it behaves differently. Liriodendrons are another example
There are some trees along a popular walking path in my area, possibly some sort of walnut, and they have extensive rot at the base of the tree. It is so bad that you can see multiple feet into the ground where there used to be roots. Luckily I do not believe they’re leaning too far over the path. Love the video!
Thanks, keep your ears listening when you walk that path.
Co dominant branches are dangerous' your boy was right in my opinion.
wonderful lesson thanks I learned alot
Joe Knuth great! Thanks for commenting
I find Arboriculture interesting.
I love this new series idea (hoping for grafting videos)
Precious Pecans I understand grafting and have done some but I’m far from an expert on that subject. Sorry
it's alright, your videos are still super cool!
I think the best strategy with birches is to plant a cluster, then take out each tree as it reaches 3 inches and plant more as desired.
Tree detectives at work those trees probably shouldn't stick around great video
Damon Reuning there is truth to the word detective. Can’t assume without inspecting to find the truth.
Indeed a tree that hides it true condition can be far more dangerous than a big old tree that is obviously dead again thanks for these videos
Where'd you get that cool ladder?
good one.. from now on i will cut limps in two parts.. didn,t know that..:)
Martin Spijker don’t want them to rip
How do you know what arborists are good ones to hire? Is there some kind of certification?
At this point, I'm afraid to call anyone to work on our trees later (they're young now, but thinking for the future), because I'm afraid they won't know what they're doing.
NatureShy lol, yes! That has been my experience with many trades, especially roofers, and including IT support!
My humble opinion: Birches should be cut out and replaced before they get a certain size. That way you keep your little birch patch and avoid danger. And here's a plus--some times you can find a buyer for nice fresh birch logs.
So my grandfather was part of the CCCs before WWII, and every time he pruned something he painted over the wound with something. Looked like tar to a 5 year old me. Never figured out why he did that and I've never seen anyone do it since. Years after he passed, when I learned what the CCCs actually did, It made sense to me all of a sudden why we had groves of evergreens next to the garden.
Safety, dead limbs, pruning, disciplining growth and spread, remedial pruning from prior dangerous or improper (previous) technology pruning (cables, clean cutting, concrete holes, etc.).
But, did you like the video?
Hmmmmmmmmm ..... lets thinkkkkkkkk ....... yessssssssssssssssssssssssss DDDDDDDD
How far is the best distance to be from the branch collar? A quarter inch? Closer? Up to half an inch (likely too much)? Should I attempt to get closer if I'm a little too far away? I just don't wanna cause more damage or hinder the sealing process on these larger cuts (about 2-3in diameter cuts).
DEmersonJMFM there isn’t a measurement. Look for the collar or ridge and don’t compromise it
So as long as I don't damage the ridge I'm good.
Lets sharp the saws.
I'm frankly surprised with your ease on film, and knowledge base you haven't long ago utilized a production company to create a training series. of any profession, an arborist's job is one of a constant need, safety, technique, species, and equipment. simply stated it's like chess. your next moves are studied/planned in advance, and THATS where experience is crucial. any cat with the gonads to get up in a tree can hack away, but all decisions/cuts professionally, are future based. what shape is desired, which direction do you want the tree to advance, surroundings that are a part of the eventual maximin growth projected for the tree, and on and on. for the green guys, pay attention to the "lectures" you get from the old cats. there still around because they care. and caring is why they share their knowledge. best advice (usually free) your EVER gonna get. thanks Blair.
I need to do a video on my mentors. Who they were, what they taught me and how that knowledge made me a better person. Most are dead now and I miss them.
exact same here. real men, with real "true grit".
The homeowner must have been devastated by that news. Did these trees eventually end up being removed or did they decide to go with the wait and see approach?
Blair, Struggling to learn home & old tree owner here...I can’t find the fungus referred to 14:26 >14:43 ? Ianderma? Can you help us with the spelling? When your assistant says 15:01 “this whole depression here... that seems to be a little weepy” - what does he mean by weepy & exactly what does that indicate? Do you have a go to reference source online or in book form for identifying wood destroying fungi? MANY THANKS, congrats on the 40k & respect from Wisconsin.
Ganaderma aplanatum
What kind of small handsaw saw is he using?
Trainee seems like a know it all 😅
Do you have a video on mushrooms that are bad news on trees ? And does mushroom verity match with tree verity when it comes to non beneficial mushrooms? I realize that you posted this 4years ago but also know you have been great with responding even on videos that were a few years back. Thank you sir for passing down your knowledge. Also I Have seen the tree company’s you speak of as I wanted to gain some extra knowledge had a talk with the owner he was thrilled to have me on while waiting for my F-550 to get out of service which was gonna be a few months out and I didn’t work past one day. I felt it was more important to not attach myself to his business on a moral and legal basis along with I brought my gear from my truck which they had one worn out rigging rope on each truck and well I go a bit over board at times on newer purchases of equipment. However, I justify it by the work taking the cost of the overhead but if I can speed line to the truck then I would say that cuts cost as well being amount of time used to pack brush out along with people. Where as only day first thing was told to pack light for two pruning I made a argument that I would prefer to pack everything and again for no reason I could tell other then their trucks had overheating issues which were basically bone dry empty besides one small climbing bag per person and well my lanyard bag alone is more than that not including my two harness and climb line bags set up for pruning and removal they had nice brand new looking trucks but maintenance was lax to the point the trucks were tired pulling no load would overheat. The two pruning turned into also including three removal and was constantly asked if I had this , that , or another thing which I had but was told to leave behind by the time in the afternoon where I watched the two trees get hacked, and having seen roughly 35-40% removal on a pruning had seen enough. Learning that his company didn’t have one single arborist working for him and he had been a groundie but once he bought the business he no longer worked and wasn’t a arborist and I had seen enough and in this work for purpose of the tree or trees and spent the last 20 years also as a wildland firefighter and I have issues with the fact companies think pruning a tree is big cuts so the customers see what you did when the cost is from the danger of being a monkey in tree while promoting strong support and great growth or production if fruit bearing. I have reconsidered my decision to while waiting on my truck to work somewhere else to learn something new and was dumbfounded when I saw it first hand I made 8 on two different crews out of three that did the three removal and two pruning that myself my groundie and some good rigging have done in less time than his crew of seven which I couldn’t believe the payout overhead or fact that he had Nita single licensed Arborist working for him. I worked as a sub and private contractor and I am glad I pushed for that when learning his climbers were well under industry standard in Colorado
Wow, long comment. Mushrooms first. I have a lot of videos on fungal issues that are indicators of decay. Some are very serious. As for poor quality tree companies, seems there are more tree companies that don’t know the business than do. Very sad.
@@arboristBlairGlenn Very VERY sad! Your videos are really helpful to the novice interviewing "tree services" for residential needs & concerns. Can't thank you enough for that. Thanks to your educational help, it's made a big difference in my recent interviews of service people inspecting (or not!) the towering maples on our property.
9
Add another type of video to channel. Tools of the trade, Power tools preferred go to hand tools, brands etc. and types of ladders. Esp. those Tripod ladders.
Trooperandcooper Ale I talk about my tools a bit but that often leads to controversy. “Stihl is better than Husky” type stuff. I know the tools I like and why.
Blair....it's not controversy..... people who appreciate your knowledge will be glad to listen and learn. ...
i wonder how many people spontaneously have bacon after watching your videos... you should buy some minor shares in a bacon company :o) Great content, btw.... as always, Sir. Thank you.
jennifer spicer I try to put folks in a different mind set when they watch one of my videos. Nothing like the high Sierras and feeling that grounding. If I had caught a fish, it would have been trout in the pan😊
completely understood! i feel quite similarly... and would take the trout anytime.
Trout is YUMMY.
❤😊🙏👍 I looked that when you poked that stick inside the birch tree while I went all the way in and one of them and the other one was bad too yet how's it good decision they have to be taken down they all got rot in them and everything
Safety is priority
@@arboristBlairGlenn Yes play absolutely agree with your safety comes first before you start cutting a tree down and everything else I'll watch one of your videos again very soon thank you I find them very interesting the way you talk about them take care God bless.
QUESTION: by watching my neighbors top their row of three clump paper birch to cause the three to slowly one by one succumb to the birch borer it's a major pest here. I want the weeping version a cultivar call youngii you had one in a thumbnail not to long ago, what would I have do if anything to keep it safe from the borer??? thanks Blair I hope you see this
Matt Lloyd One of the problems with Bitch trees in general and insects is the climate they are planted in. Birch come from really cold climate that often controls insects. Plant a Birch in a warm climate, (like where I live), and you may have problems. Hope that helps.
Yup. Not much hope for any sort of Birch...
+Samuel Luria I agree there's a few still around but in my area and there healthy but if sum idiot cuts on em their gone. I want the weeper of it but before I fork out 300 bucks I'm trying to round up the info from pros cuz there's no pros in far western Virginia. everyone here thinks you pollard or stub everything
You should name them and add Episode 01 than 02 03 and so on. If you ever do go back and do that, it would be a big help in the future and a good legacy of your knowledge to leave
So much I should do and I agree. Problem is the time it takes to do all this. As it is, just getting a new video out weekly is a serious effort. I’m doing my tree work for a living and squeak in the video stuff.
@@arboristBlairGlenn just so you know viewers can make public playlist for anyone on CZcams. Just like you, you can make playlist for music or any other channels you like BUT the videos don't change names. So say you make a playlist for yourself, you could do that right now and it only takes a couple minutes to setup as many as you want but say you make plalist for.....Pruning, Tree Care, Tree Removals, BIG Trees which could have pruning, removals and whatever else you woudld like because one video can be in several playlist. Now that you have the playlist created, each week after uploading just click on that video to watch or do it form your youtube page and add to playlist which is the save icon or + I believe.
@@arboristBlairGlenn yea it's a plus sign inside of a square. If your watching on the CZcams app it's on the right of the 5 icons under the video, thumbs up thumbs down, share, download and save to playlist are the five icons from left to right. The only thing you need to remember or keep track of on a piece of paper is the next number used on the next video for that playlist. 009 or 099. I can explain in better if that is to confusing because I have loved your channel for a long time, the content and things to learn is awesome plus the channel is really underrated. Another youruber I watch finally started using playlist for each job and his number of views are slowly growing after peaking for awhile
@@chosen1one930 thank you, I will try harder
@@chosen1one930 I do keep playlists but I need to be better organized. Here is one on exciting jobs.
czcams.com/play/PLdq3KQ_xcH4B7yGHc9wcKxThfLRslgT9Q.html
Here is another (shorter), tree pruning decision video czcams.com/video/ycMf1Q6OvPY/video.html
arboristBlairGlenn Thanks for the educational videos. Now you've explained it, I'll never forget to "retain the branch bark ridge'
Paul Wood 👍🏻👍🏻
Naturally occurring trunk cavities provide habitat for animals to live and have babies. Unfortunately the tree is a risk leaning towards the house.
I think about habitat. If a tree is full of nests or cavities with wildlife, I recommend leaving it if it is in a safe place.
What kind of ladder is he on in this vid? Ordinary builder's ladders always feel dangerous to me when used for tree work.
Ed. Farr an orchard ladder
thx
Poor birch tree
Wasn’t sure if you saw this one yet....
czcams.com/video/VMUGHMbDW-E/video.html
It falls under a lot of what you said about encroachment.
This, was a bad decision...
Wow, close call. Thanks
holy stuff Jim! and how she turned to look (probably poping) and continued on???
How about it, at least look at the tree, and TRY to go in a different direction eh?
I wanted you to see this, as this is the end result of what you are always warning landscapers about.
Wow! I just checked this link. Thanks!