By Pat Gallavan
Chances are that the effect of the tranquilizer bulletin in the last Green Thumb has worn off. We can now carefully appraise the damage done to our trees. On streets where brush removal has been completed, it is easy to see that many trees, though battered and misshapen, are not a total loss. Now that the leaves have fallen, split crotches and stubs left in emergency removals are much in evidence. Our previous bulletin mentioned that there was no rush in doing this type of repair work, as long as it is completed by the time growth starts in the spring.
This final repair work, for the most part, should be done by a professional tree surgeon. Sawing off a limb isn’t quite as easy as falling off a log. First of all, in large trees the danger of falling is a major hazard for the amateur. Secondly, improper pruning can be quite detrimental to the future growth of the tree.
Under normal conditions we have enough good tree men to adequately take care of our trees. This storm, however, has put a great burden on the existing tree companies and has opened a tempting field to a lot of unqualified and unscrupulous people. These persons, armed with a pick-up, a ladder and a saw, can ruin a good tree in an hour’s time. Don’t be afraid to ask for credentials; a legitimate operator will gladly produce them, and recommendations if necessary. Above all, if you are not sure of his qualifications, watch his work for the mistakes explained and illustrated in this article.
To know a good pruning job from a bad one it is necessary to understand a few principles of tree growth. First of all, a tree, like all plants, is a living organism. We know that it manufactures its own food in the leaves. Raw materials, water and minerals, taken in by the roots are transported up to the leaves and there, in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll (green matter), are converted to simple food. These in turn flow back through the tree, nourishing growing cells throughout the plant. This intricate transportation system and a layer of active growth cells lie just beneath the bark. There are a number of theories on the forces that put this system into motion. However, for our purposes it is evident that the foliage of the tree is essential to this process. It stands to reason then that we can’t just lop off all the major branches of a large tree and expect it to survive.
Dead stub cannot heal. Rotten section inside tree Decay enters stub and continues into heart of living tree.
Decay enters thru stub Rotten interior weakens limb
Living tissue Cut made flush will heal over. Decay is thus prevented.