I trimmed the trunk because it was growing quite tall and spindly. Is there any way to continue growing the main trunk or will it only grow branches now?
There is no reason why you can’t resume apical growth. It looks to be recovering as is. It is difficult to tell, but the pinkish growth is new, yes? That is what will resume growing as your “main trunk”.
You can see the angled swelling above the node, that is the branch collar you need to every so slightly cut at, or minutely above. This is where the callous wood will form to compartmentalise the wound. As the stub you have cut is so long, the tree will will have to wait for the stub to die and drop off before closing.
First step is prune at the collar “target”. Then you will let tree recover for a while and dictate what new growth will resume the vertical trunk that you want. You will then select and encourage that growth to resume being the main trunk. You won’t be pruning anything for a while after your first cut, you need the tree to recover. Most pruning events are annual and never more than 25% of total canopy loss. Note on pic, zoom in.
I don’t know what the other commentators mean with their comments, this is fairly standard arboricultural pruning practices. If anything they said was true, any tree other than a mature conifer that suffered minor “topping” damage in the wild would be an instant death sentence for the tree. This is not the case in a majority of situations.
For a real world example, here is a tree that was topped by a moth and the pruning that I did to recover it. I pruned some of the new branches at the wound to encourage the upper growth. There are notes on pic, you need to zoom in,
Edit: Just went to neighbours house and they have a roughly pollarded Avocado. You can see the multiple regrowth points, you would select one of these to be the new trunk. Just a good demonstration of the same species getting on with it.
Interestingly, my large planting I did myself just hit 2 years old as well. It didn’t occur to me at the time when first watching but we planted at similar times, me being in November (early humid Summer due to La Nina).
Will be interesting to compare in that regard. We are getting record low rainfall here immediately after record high so my planting is acting a little strange. Hopefully Beau’s doesn’t get burnt with all that long grass and that climate.
The majority of visible trees (bar the Melaleuca he mentions) are Acacia and Eucalypt, the 2 fastest growing trees in Australia. Not to mention the La Nina. I did read a study once where it was theorised that Eucs aren’t pioneers, they are hyperpioneers. Hyper meaning “wow, that’s fast” in scientific terms.
In regards to grass competition, what he has done there wouldn’t fly in the Aus sub/tropics, exotic grass and vine growth would have pulled most of them down. But in relation to what he is illustrating with 24 hours of work and then hands off forever, it’s certainly demonstrating how easy it is to make a tangible difference.
Since the drone shot is very gappy, I think the grass is swallowing a large number of species. He stated himself 25% loss which is beyond acceptable for commercial plantings and most contracts would require an in-fill. If he maintained it, would it have been higher? We can’t tell. He is obviously only shooting the best parts of the site too (which is fair enough).
Like you say, species and site selection may be helping, not to mention the consortium of weeds present may be less damaging than other sites. Not taking away from the effort but as we all know, planting the trees is 10% of the work usually.
Plus, I hate to say it, but just planting tall “trees” is not a forest. There are a number of other species missing from the planting. If the plan was to insert more species once the grass was suppressed then maybe it would hit “forest” status but being in an open paddock like that, natural recruitment is not going to be high. We have to remember that this is YouTube content, not high quality ecological restoration.
Environmental conditions (rainfall) will have a massive impact on survival rates here, so much so it blows my mind that the entire industry doesn’t mobilise around the rain systems like La Nina and Indian dipole.
You can lose species (including the massive nursery effort/footprint) and increase replanting in the dry or just work around the rain with some light maintenance. I think the busywork keeps planting going each year rather than rapid gluts of planting around conditions. It’s a waste of resources but it is what it is. We have just had record dry conditions and high temps and our company did quite a number of plantings because “grants need to be acquitted”. It’s so dumb. Planting into dust is demoralising.
For reference, my planting since the damaging floods is at 98% survival. The floods removing a significant amount but it’s still only about 4% at planting completion. At the time, it was like 85% of 100 plants.
Yeppers. Trees aren’t going to cut it but if we ignore the climate crisis aspect, then trees are still worth it. But the definition of trees and forest is confusing. I’m lost already.
I’m still around, just nothing to say. Hope you’re keeping well. I even had some content for you saved on my phone; if you watch Ukraine/Russia war footage, the trench systems have some interesting profiles in amongst the horror.
I am but one person with a full time job and a “charity” business I run on the side. We have about 4 months of wet weather to plant in on a good year.
The planting has 3000 plants total, 95% grown by me in nursery. I’m not speedspading as I have to hoe out grass as I go (chemical free site) so I tend to plant approx 50-100 per afternoon I devote to it. 30-60 afternoons say. In one weekend, a flood ripped through and ripped out some oldish ones and a lot of young but I wasn’t finished the site so I just replaced and kept working.
If I exclude that event, I can only visualise a few deaths across the entire planting. Failure to thrives aren’t included. That’s with zero watering but watering in at planting time.
Here is a tree that is 12 months old but the earliest part of site is now 2 years old. The youngest is but a few weeks:
Environment be damned or don’t be damned. Because you like them or because you don’t like your neighbors … what animals would you like to see locally that are not there ?
I am trying to plant palm trees from date pits. I’ve already done it. It’s a very long process that takes about a year to show a recognisable palm. The date pit has to be first immerged in water for at least 15 days and up to 3 weeks. Then in wet cotton for the same time. Finally, we can plant it. The palm should be water...
If it’s going to be in the same pot for a long time, I would make an inorganic mix to prevent compaction and rotting of the materials (usually pine bark is the culprit).
Something like 50% horticultural sand, 25% aeration (pumice or perlite - perlite if it’s a small pot, pumice if it’s a big pot), 25% water holding (sphagnum, coir). Then you can either mix in a long lasting chem fertiliser, or use water-based frequently, or top dress with organics when required.
I’m upgrading because my phone is losing (lost?) support. I use a OnePlus 7 Pro and love it and wouldn’t bother upgrading otherwise. I’d appreciate some recommendations of android phones you like, please....
The removal of senescing trees or those which pose a genuine risk to health or property is part of professional urban tree management. However, there are many requests for tree removals that are not based on a genuine likelihood of injury or property damage, but rather on an unfounded fear of what might happen or where the tree...
I’m proud to have been part of that 3%. We definitely didn’t approve as many as the stats say.
That said, the reason I left the work was because of the unnecessary tree removals going against my ethics and qualifications, approved by people who had no business approving these things (politics). So maybe the 97% got me in the end.
Interesting article on assisted migration of redwoods. This idea is starting to catch on. I think the naysayers are a little too fearful—are there any documented negative effects of moving long-lived and slow to reproduce trees to areas that have a long history of biogeographic contact? I am not aware of any. Most invasive...
Did you honestly think I was being serious? I can’t see how you could think I was bring “laughably naïve” without being “laughably naïve” yourself. No offence intended.
Researchers investigated the impact of extreme heat on trees during Australia’s last major heatwave, in 2019 and 2020. They found species with large thin leaves, such as red maple, were particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, whereas trees with thicker leaves, such as ash and Chinese elm, were better able to regulate their...
“We’re coming to realize more and more that we don’t really know exactly what a pristine atmosphere is like.”
While anthropogenic emissions dominate cloud formation in populated areas, plant volatiles dominate over more pristine land elsewhere.
“We are seeing more and more because our instruments are much better now,” she says.
To Fan, the new data suggests that sesquiterpenes may help better account for the global flow of aerosols.
Aerosols make clouds deflect more heat away from Earth-an effect known as “Radiative forcing.” More aerosols mean more reflective clouds that look whiter, last longer, and rain less.
In Australia, there were some news articles stating that if an elderly person can’t explain the scratches (blood, body parts) on their car, you should take them to a Doctor to get their licence revoked. But only if you can force them to go somehow.
Cut like that with a large, sharp saw could be done in 5 mins. If the bar was long enough to cut from one side, it’s 3 cuts only. If there was no notch/scarf, one backcut and could be done quicker than 5.
Source: Arborist. Our 30 year old trees are that diameter so we get a lot of practice.
Your questions still stand but it could be fast if it wanted to be.
Human-caused climate change is altering the temperatures and rainfall patterns to which those and other trees are accustomed, and many have already been pushed close to the edge of what they can endure....
Slash and burn farming is rapidly destroying the world’s remaining rainforests and sending vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Yet for more than 250 million farmers across the world, it is the only way they can survive....
And the second photo reveals a line there, which is possibly why that branch has been topped. Second photo does reveal more, thanks.
I know it’s not yours but the only way, in my opinion, to build discussion is either be wrong or ask dumb questions. Don’t know if you’ve noticed but Lemmy has quietened up considerably.
Valid concerns that are underpinned by improper urban forestry practises regarding the health of trees.
I’d guess we need to move away from the ‘street tree’ as a singular unit and place it into the ‘urban forest’ where trees die on the regular in a natural succession. This includes parasitisation, standing and fallen wood (and leaf litter) etc. We need forest layers.
Bit hard now that the cities are places for cars to drive around but there is hope for the future!
One thing that old people used to say to us is that rapists and/or snakes hide in the undergrowth. You can’t win.
Hi, I just found my way here recently from Reddit and being told that Lemmy may be better. I have been approved by the admin here very quickly and I’m just starting to figure things out....
The Aussie Environment and Australia communities are probably the best placed to get started on koalas. I wouldn’t suggest making a new community yet until you need to, there are a lot of unused ones due to the lack of users. Koalas suit the theme of !environment (how do I know? I posted all the posts there).
Very well, but unlike deciduous stuff they have to be done in Spring to Autumn because doing them in Winter there is a chance of death. The lignotuber of some species would lend itself to better coppice. Pollarding sawlogs on ladders is relatively common in agricultural settings like Syntropic and others.
If you are cutting them as small as possible, I’d assume the tree would go backwards in health. You need lots of leaf between cuts to keep the health up. These trees were planted at the same time, a percentage got the second cut, some were on their first and the main pictured one was pushing a little too big.
I’m no worldwide expert but I have done a lot of pollards and if I’m cutting for biomass, I don’t let them exceed 40mm, and will cut annually if they reach 20-40mm within that year. If the majority of shoots are below 20mm, then 2 or 3 years. Juvenile trees often need annual cuts before setting in into 2-3 year cycles. Mulberry is an exception, on wet years they need annual cuts before bud burst.
The Oak pollards of old for shipbuilding, would have had very large cuts on long cycles. I think they cycle mosaic coupes because you need sun to hit the shoots or they die. I think with our humid Summers, too big is a risk for a lot of species but Eucalyptus with their resistant timber could go reasonably big (evidenced by old tree loppings all over).
I think it is more to do with subtropical plants, they need to be actively growing to enhance the epicormic shoots where as a deciduous species forces a flow at bud burst. It’s why we ringbark in Winter, less chance of epicormic growth under wound.
Yeah, large wounds do cause decay but there are hundreds of year old pollards still existing today that would have had them. Next time you watch ‘The Princess Bride’ see if you can spot a few. 40mm is well within normal pruning cuts.
While it’s an interesting method for wood production I’m not really sold on pollarding for urban areas. Seems like a very labor-intensive method for removing most of the beauty and benefits of a tree.
Haha, that’s a very American statement. Read the book and see what you think. Technically, it’s a production pruning practice but culturally, I suppose it’s recognisable and homely. Check out some European styles, candelbra etc. Overall, I believe the technical aspect of it is very arboricutural, the cuts and callousing and it does increase age and safety of tree, but it is a style some don’t like.
I think this has negative effects on the threadiverse because it tends to keep user’s focus at lemmy.world and in general keeps users to stay in their bubbles
Yep, I’m where I am, subscribed to zero communities but I can check out what’s happening nationally using Local. If the instance got massive, that would change but it’s fine as it is.
I guess the science instances, the art instances, the solarpunk instance, or even porn instances etc use Local heavily.
There was a thread on reddit about it and from preliminary studies, they couldn’t find evidence it was as bad as made out to be.
Yeah, looks like shit, has risks and obviously no risk is better, but I find interesting that sometimes a short study reveals results opposite to what you can imagine.
Here is summary:
The document discusses the characteristics and effects of fungi on woody plants and trees, including cankers, root rots, wood staining, and seedling blights.
The majority of the fungi isolates are likely to be saprophytes, which are not extensively studied as pathogenic fungi.
The document mentions the identification of 83 isolates using DNA extraction and sequencing.
The study found no aggressive pathogens on the trees in urban landscapes that were tested.
The document also discusses the potential role of volcano mulching in promoting disease on tree trunks, but notes that this has not been confirmed by research.
Yeah, I think big trees/Eucs are worth it but what I mean is that the way they are placed into the urban landscape needs improvement. Park plantings as well. The risks should be managed, not only with inspection and tree management but with exclusion zones that not only passively protect people but actively improve the health of the tree.
The 3 species of Spotted are superficially similar, with Lemon Scented and C.maculata sometimes difficult to tell apart. Maybe C.citriodora being the northeastern species, even though it’s naturalised all over, isn’t 100% suited. C.maculata seeds should be easy to import. Possibly invasive though! Hoops wouldn’t be too bad.
Since I am in an area with humid Summers and mild Winters, most of anything I suggest wouldn’t be suitable. Plenty of outliers though, western Queensland too. You probably have Brachychiton populneus there?
Is there a way to get my avocado tree to continue growing the main trunk? (lemmy.world)
I trimmed the trunk because it was growing quite tall and spindly. Is there any way to continue growing the main trunk or will it only grow branches now?
I planted a forest two years ago, let's see how it turned out | Beau Miles (vid.puffyan.us)
What non-native animal would you really really really like to introduce into your local habitat ?
Environment be damned or don’t be damned. Because you like them or because you don’t like your neighbors … what animals would you like to see locally that are not there ?
Collapse is nigh (aussie.zone)
This is a future I don’t want to live in....
Planting a palm tree - Which soil should I use ?
I am trying to plant palm trees from date pits. I’ve already done it. It’s a very long process that takes about a year to show a recognisable palm. The date pit has to be first immerged in water for at least 15 days and up to 3 weeks. Then in wet cotton for the same time. Finally, we can plant it. The palm should be water...
What android phones do you recommend and why?
I’m upgrading because my phone is losing (lost?) support. I use a OnePlus 7 Pro and love it and wouldn’t bother upgrading otherwise. I’d appreciate some recommendations of android phones you like, please....
Defending and Expanding the Urban Forest: Opposing unnecessary tree removal requests (treenet.org)
The removal of senescing trees or those which pose a genuine risk to health or property is part of professional urban tree management. However, there are many requests for tree removals that are not based on a genuine likelihood of injury or property damage, but rather on an unfounded fear of what might happen or where the tree...
Can We Save the Redwoods by Helping Them Move? (www.nytimes.com)
Interesting article on assisted migration of redwoods. This idea is starting to catch on. I think the naysayers are a little too fearful—are there any documented negative effects of moving long-lived and slow to reproduce trees to areas that have a long history of biogeographic contact? I am not aware of any. Most invasive...
Why does everyone shit on bycicles but never on cars??? (lemmy.world)
Haunting Sounds Made by World's Largest Living Thing Recorded (www.sciencealert.com)
How can cities help trees survive extreme heat? (www.theguardian.com)
Researchers investigated the impact of extreme heat on trees during Australia’s last major heatwave, in 2019 and 2020. They found species with large thin leaves, such as red maple, were particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, whereas trees with thicker leaves, such as ash and Chinese elm, were better able to regulate their...
A revelation about trees is messing with climate calculations (arstechnica.com)
Clouds are the largest source of uncertainty in climate predictions....
Got that going for 'em at least (mindly.social)
Sycamore at the Gap (slrpnk.net)
Famous Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall found cut down (www.theguardian.com)
cross-posted from: kbin.social/m/[email protected]/t/497705...
How to save plants from climate change? Just ask them (California) (www.sciencedaily.com)
Human-caused climate change is altering the temperatures and rainfall patterns to which those and other trees are accustomed, and many have already been pushed close to the edge of what they can endure....
IngaFoundation - Restoring Land – Sinking Cabon – Transforming Lives – Saving Rainforest (www.ingafoundation.org)
Slash and burn farming is rapidly destroying the world’s remaining rainforests and sending vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Yet for more than 250 million farmers across the world, it is the only way they can survive....
One of my favorites from the neighborhood (i.imgur.com)
cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/5116952...
Tech News online right now (lemmy.world)
appreciate it (lemmy.ml)
How we brought mistletoes back to the trees of Melbourne – while warding off hungry possums (theconversation.com)
cross-posted from: aussie.zone/post/2027785...
New From Reddit (lemmy.world)
Hi, I just found my way here recently from Reddit and being told that Lemmy may be better. I have been approved by the admin here very quickly and I’m just starting to figure things out....
How's my pruning? Rate it out of 10. (i.postimg.cc)
Just kidding. These are Eucalyptus pollards before the cut was tidied up....
The illegal killing of 265 trees on Sydney's North Shore is not just vandalism. It's theft on a grand scale (theconversation.com)
cross-posted from: aussie.zone/post/1760733...
Why is the default setting for the startpage's feed "Local" and not "All"
I think this has negative effects on the threadiverse because it tends to keep user’s focus at lemmy.world and in general keeps users to stay in their bubbles
Mulch volcanoes are detrimental to a tree's health! (yt.artemislena.eu)
The humble spotted gum is a world class urban tree. Here's why... (theconversation.com)
cross-posted from: aussie.zone/post/1641341...