Tree Morphogenesis book 1 - free deownload - seeking feedback

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  • #26
Well the uniqueness of the insights may be overstated. So what? The conclusions from formal research are also often overstated, but it can still hold value.

Here's an abstract to a paper submitted last year. Similar, related material, some different terms used for the same phenomena and structures. No one's developed an adequately detailed retrenchment pruning program for universal applicability yet imo. Nov 15 at TCI Expo you can see one guy's best shot, but it's at 8 a.m., and after a hard night of 'networking' that may be a little rough...

Preserving the Grandeur

Preserving older oaks can involve support and lightning systems, soil work, and pest treatments, but pruning is primary. Tree owners and arborists alike often react to tree problems by recommending removal and replacement, preferring “death with dignity” to the uncertain task of restoring tree health, stability, and value. Experts in Germany, Australia, France, the UK and the US are using similar pruning methods and seeing similar tree responses. The art and science of restoration pruning can restore health, safety, and dignity. By following the way trees shed, then respond, arborists can preserve their grandeur, to the benefit of all.

Keywords: Bud protection zone, node, retrenchment, reiteration, rejuvenation, restoration
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Further Reading:

Fay, Neville. P. Environmental Arboriculture, Tree Ecology and Veteran Tree Management. http://www.treeworks.co.uk/downloads/3%20-%20ENVIRONMENTAL%20ARBORICULTURE%20TREE%20ECOLOGY.pdf

Del Tredici, Peter. Aging and Rejuvenation in Trees, Arnoldia 1999-2000 Winter http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1999-59-4-aging-and-rejuvenation-in-trees.pdf
Gilman, Edward F. et al. Assessing Damage and Restoring Trees after a Hurricane, ENH 1036.University of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep291

Goodfellow, John. Final Report: Development of Risk Assessment Criteria for Branch Failures within the Crowns of Trees. 2009 http://www.ecosync.com/tdworld/Branch%20Failure%20Investigation.pdf

Meilleur, G.P. Detective Dendro and the Devious Dieback, Retrenchment and pruning, Arborist News, June 2012

Meilleur, G.P. Mike O’Ryza and Partial Pollarding for Parrots, Australia/UK Arbor Age, Feb/Mar 2012

Meilleur, G.P. Mike O’Ryza and the Vexing View, Australia/UK Arbor Age, Dec/Jan 2012

Meilleur, G.P. Restoration Pruning, Arborist News, June 2010 http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/f1a4dcaa#/f1a4dcaa/1

Meilleur, G.P. The Power of Positive Pole Pruning, Arborist News, June 2008 http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e14cd2f8#/e14cd2f8/1

Meilleur, G.P. Assessing, Repairing and Preventing Lightning Damage, Bark tracing, Tree Care Industry, June 2007. Page 8 here: http://www.tcia.org/PDFs/TCI_Mag_June_07.pdf

Meilleur, G.P. Basic Tree Risk Assessment and CEU test, Arborist News, October 2006 http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/c56ea66e#/c56ea66e/1

Meilleur, G.P. Tree Risk Mitigation, Tree Care Industry, October 2005
Page 56 here: http://www.tcia.org/PDFs/TCI_Mag_Oct_05.pdf

Meilleur, G.P. Selective Heading Cuts after Storm Damage. Arborist News, August 2004 http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9c7f82fc#/9c7f82fc/1

Pfisterer, J. 1999. Geholzschnitt nach den Gesetzen der Natur (Tree pruning according to the laws of nature). Stuttgart, Germany: Verlag Eugen Ulmer.

Read, Helen. Veteran trees: A guide to good management Peterborough : English Nature, 2000.

Shigo, Alex. A New Tree Biology. Shigo & Trees Assoc., 1991.
 
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  • #30
Just a quick note to wish all of you the best in 2014.

For the holidays, my book will be available as a free download from Christmas eve to Boxing Day.

Please grab a copy from your local Amazon store or find it through the Tree Morphogenesis website and tell me what you think.

If you find it thought provoking, Great. But if you find new and unusual insights into trees that you will be able to use every day, then and only then will I have hit my mark.

Cheers, David Lloyd-Jones
 
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  • #32
http://www.treemorphogenesis.com/images/pdf/GreenSpirit-Summer2013-Tree-Morphogenesis.pdf

Here's a review. I like the concept, and would like to read the book...

I hope that you do read it and let me know what you think. http://www.amazon.com/Tree-Morphoge...1389025756&sr=8-1&keywords=tree+morphogenesis

I love that Green Spirit review but in line with the priorities of the organisation Katie did seem to focus on the Human perceptual and esoteric aspects of how we all instinctively assess trees and do so instinctively and in just a fraction of a second.

There is a lot more to it than that for Arborists to absorb and then to discuss.

It was on free download over Christmas but anticipating that some of my contacts would have missed it, we have put the price at just $2.99 (which is the minimum that Amazon will allow us to sell it for, something to do with the number of images and file size).
 
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  • #34
Hi Jomo

No, I'm not a Cobra user. In fact I have rarely specified any kind of bracing.

I don't like to admit that a defect exists that requires support and if I do find such a situation I prefer to subtly prune a tree or part so that it will be better able to support the branch with the defect in place.

My reasons are :-
Bracing involves drilling through the tree wounding it.
Branches wounded by the installation can become decayed right at the point that the forces acting on the tree are transferred from the branch and into the mechanical restraint
The bracing materials will degrade
The installation will need regular review and maintenance throughout the life of the tree.
Most important though, bracing preserves and flags up a defect in a tree and does so without (in my opinion) representing an effective solution to that defect.

I'm in the business of preserving trees rather than preserving defects and I feel that by using the morphological strategy that trees have evolved, I am making best and most sympathetic use of the facilities that the tree has created as it grew.

If you preserve a defect and fail to ram home the ongoing need for assessment and maintenance the risks increase dramatically as time progresses and the equipment degrades. The client expects the solution to be and to remain effective and the installing contractors insurance will remain at risk because of all of the points above.

Of course, if you do ram home the need for future and ongoing maintenance, the true open ended cost implications become clear to the tree owner.

Let me also say that I never say that I never would, it's just that in practice I almost never advocate bracing and another very good reason that I don't (relating to tree dynamics) is included in Chapter 4.
 
I prefer to subtly prune a tree or part so that it will be better able to support the branch with the defect in place.
And when subtle pruning won't mitigate the situation, through-cabling is the way to go. Here's the discoloration after 6 years, in a sick silver maple pictured below. Mtls last 30+ years, low risk, inspection interval can be 5-10 years.

But pruning is the way to go, most of the time.

S Jomo, where else ya gonna troll to do the anti-cobra rant? First, count the cobras crawling through this planetree above an outdoor market in France. 9? 11? they do have less squirrels over there.
 

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You a Cobra dynamic cabler too Guy?

Or just playin devil's advocate to yank my cable?

Tell me how supporting a branch with no defects does not weaken it in direct comparison with an identical unsupported branch?

You're suggesting that well just a little support ain't goin tu weaken it. But the science of thigmomorphogenesis proves otherwise in no uncertain terms.

You dispute these facts mate?

Jomo
 
Thanks for answering Tree Morphogene.

Good answer mate.

Rodding and cabling a vertically split tree is one example of static metallic cables, rods and throughbolts trumping any kinda pruning hands down every time.

Good luck with your book.

Jomo
 
You a Cobra dynamic cabler too Guy?

Or just playin devil's advocate to yank my cable?

You're suggesting that well just a little support ain't goin tu weaken it. But the science of thigmomorphogenesis proves otherwise in no uncertain terms.

You dispute these facts mate?

I ain't playin, yankin, suggestin, or disputin anything, mate. Waste of time.
 
So both of yuz agree with Telewski's findings on the subject, as I do right?

Jomo
No, because we don't distort his findings, as you do. He said "preferably", you said "absolutely", etc. O and a ppt. without Notes attached is a distortion in itself.

What about chippers? Let's hear more of that rant!
 
The fact that seemingly reputable folks, for just a little advertising dollars, are perfectly willing to promote products demonstrably contradicting the findings of every PhD expert who's studies conclusively prove that supporting a healthy un flawed tree/branch will weaken it over time.

Gerstenberger and Mueller can talk and spin yarns supporting their quack science till the cows come home!

Won't change the fact that Telewski's right, and they're peddling snake oil to their own detriment, IMO.

Jomo
 
we don't distort his findings, as you do. He said "preferably", you said "absolutely", etc.

Tree Morphogenesis is a great book! Regenerative pruning, is the german translation of retrenchment. Very descriptive!
 
Reducing the canopy seems counterproductive to me. Two issues I have.

Firstly, time consuming if you don't own a bucket and you'd still need a groundman walking around the tree and many different distances -shouting to you which tip to bring in more to match others.

Secondly, unless you prune it back to a lateral 2/3 the size of the branch your cutting, then it's basically topping- or the typical line clearance cut; "four inch stub, cut a 1/2 sucker."

I visited back home in 2011 and the matured trees then that I pruned in 1991 -were no longer in length, just stouter. I really don't get the idea of this type of pruning.
 
prune it back to a lateral 2/3 the size of the branch your cutting, then it's basically topping- or the typical line clearance cut; "four inch stub, cut a 1/2 sucker."

Why do you call it that?
What? The topping claim? I don't know, it's the terminology I've used when referring to a branch that hasn't been pruned back to the appropriate sized lateral.

Is it known by something else now? I've not seen a study guide or been to an ISA convention for quite some time. So my wording may indeed be outdated.
 
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