Pruning Mesquites & Palo Verdes for Strong Structure@ArbotistAdvice
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Pruning Mesquites and Palo Verdes for strong, wind resistant structure while maintaining a shade giving canopy and keeping the tree functionally away from objects is all about making those REDUCTION cuts. Thinning creates weakness and length. Reduction creates thickness and strength. It would be helpful to first watch our video on Reduction vs. Thinning.
Angelo, GREAT video! Thanks for the info. - Brad Holland
@@bradholland241 Thanks. You bet! I was going for baroque.
Question: Why didn’t you remove the entire branch instead of making reduction cuts?
I’m asking because I have a mesquite tree with a low branch on the trunk. I want the tree to grow upwards rather than outwards to provide shade for my house. Would cutting the entire branch back to the trunk accomplish this?
Great question! Not a short answer. When a limb is removed from its leader that is called a "Thinning" cut. Thinning, Lion Tailing and removing the inner canopy are all the same thing. We make "Reduction" cuts to avoid "Thinning" cuts. "Reduction" cuts are cutting a leader back to a branch. There are three main reasons to make reduction cuts and avoid thinning cuts. In other words, there are three main reasons to nurture the inner canopy and not remove it. 1. A tree has an actual physiological response to thinning by growing weak and long. The opposite is true for a reduction cut which encourages future growth to be thicker in diameter and stronger. So, thinning creates weakness and length while reduction causes thickness and strength. 2. The inner canopy is more sensitive to sunlight since it is naturally more shaded it collects nutrients from the sun during low light conditions like cloud cover but even more importantly at dusk and dawn which occurs six to seven hours every day of the tree's life. Add that up and it is a lot of time that trees without inner canopies are not able to photosynthesize. 3. The inner canopy acts as a vibration reduction system minimizing the energy/vibration from the wind going to the ends of limbs. Another significant reason to keep the inner canopy on your mesquite: Since thinning grows limbs quicker in length, those limbs start to see the light of day and become codominant with the leader or trunk. This leads to a 1 to 1 aspect ratio in diameter which leads to included bark which leads to a large lower limb tearing completely off. This is very common due to inner canopies being removed. You can accomplish your goal for shade with making reduction cuts and keeping the tree functionally away from whatever you do not want it near. For more clarification try watching my video on Reduction vs. Thinning.
Nice work. Wouldn't crown be a more appropriate term.
You are right! I should have used the term crown which refers to an individual tree as opposed to a canopy which refers to a community of trees as in a forest.
@@ArboristAdvice I do the same all the time. good work solid arborist stuff much love brother