I'm interested to know what UKTCeers think about the above, reasoning: To
lessen wind loading and the potential for branch failure.
Application from a qualified Arboricultural Consultant.
Group of 5 mature privately owned TPO'd Monterey Pines adjacent to highway.
Single stemmed, 16-18m tall, 90+ dbh, growing approx' 6m apart.
All in reasonable health and condition, although, they have suffered from
some minor branch failure in the past, with a few secondary branches in the
high crown with branch collar socket wounds, where limbs have failed,
tearing out the branch core from the parent branch. 95% of the trees appear
sound when viewed from ground.
M.Pine, as we know are susceptible to branch failure as a result of their
growth habit, producing limbs with poor taper rate.
Although, I consider that crown thinning should be refused for the following
reasons:
1) The crowns of Monterey Pine tend to be densely foliated at the branch
extremities and crown thinning this species often tends to leave the trees
with a rather sickly appearance, markedly altering their typically
recognised growth characteristic.
2) Monterey Pine trees do not have the same regenerative powers as that of
broadleaf trees. Monterey Pines cannot grow new foliage from old wood, i.e.
once the foliage is removed, it will not grow back. Thinned pines compensate
for the loss of foliage by producing more growth from the tips, and this can
result in a sparse, 'leggy' branch formation, which is more vulnerable to
damage in moderate to high winds.
3) Crown thinning can exasperate the potential of wind induced branch
failure in the following ways: The removal of foliage can reduce the amount
of sunlight energy available to the tree. The removal of foliage and
numerous wounds can impede the flow of water and assimilates between shoots
and roots, consequently reducing the supply to the roots. These two factors
can slow growth rate, which can result in narrower annual rings, reducing
the taper rate of the limbs, increasing the length over stem diameter ratio,
consequently increasing the lever arm, and potentially escalating the
likelihood of branch failure.
4) Based on the reasons given above, the proposed work should be refused on
grounds of the adverse impact the work will likely have on the trees' health
and subsequent amenity value.
Or am I barking, and 15% crown thin will have no adverse implications?
Do TO's grant CT on pines?
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