Pruning needing done

[karla]

A few of my trees at the back of my section are in need of pruning, and the guy who said he'd do them has been too busy. I'm getting a bit tired of waiting (over three months now) - is there anyone here who does that kind of stuff? They aren't overly tall or big, just getting out of hand.

PM me for contact details etc ~

[ManDownUnder]

How long till Disco does the obvious...?

[Colapop]

Cut''s down her trees?

[Swoop]

Wrong time of year to be pruning anyway.
Trees move various amounts of chemicals around inside them, to ward off infection and heal the cut/s. At this time of the year they are fairly dormant and the risk of disease is greater.
(Having a good chin-wag with an arborist yesterday...)

[karla]

Wrong time of year to be pruning anyway.
Trees move various amounts of chemicals around inside them, to ward off infection and heal the cut/s. At this time of the year they are fairly dormant and the risk of disease is greater.
(Having a good chin-wag with an arborist yesterday...)

Thanks for that advice, I have not a clue about the ins and outs of pruning, and I've just done my very untamed grape vine today myself. Hope I haven't killed it!

I'm kind of surprised that the guy who I asked to prune them (a tree and garden maintenance person) didn't mention that. But such is the way of business - he's not going to tell me that is he? Grrrr.

Anyway, I've just been asked to make a website for a landscaping business - there could be room for some bartering here, maybe. Time will tell. :)

[Racey Rider]

While I can understand what that arborist is trying to say,,
To say 'It's the wrong time of the year to be pruning trees' is a bit of a Over Generalization.

Some trees, are better not to be pruned at this time due to disease concerns.
Most trees will be fine pruned now.


Re: Grapes
Now is the perfect time to be pruning your grape vine, while it is dormant.

In fact it is more likely to kill a grape vine by pruning early spring when the sap is already rising strongly. Lots of pruning cuts at that time can cause the vine to 'Bleed out' as the cuts won't seal under the pressure of the raising sap.
If you have left it that late to prune your grape, be aware of the moon cycle. Once the sap starts flowing, and you think you still 'Have to prune it', wait till a few days After the full moon as the sap pressure will decrease after full moon.

May sound crazy, but it's true. Just as the moon has affect on the tides.


I didn't hear that from anyone
just years of experience.

[Timber020]

Wrong time of year to be pruning anyway.
Trees move various amounts of chemicals around inside them, to ward off infection and heal the cut/s. At this time of the year they are fairly dormant and the risk of disease is greater.
(Having a good chin-wag with an arborist yesterday...)

Um your "arborist" may need to go back to school or he was bullshitting to avoid doing a job at this time of year. Winter is the BEST time (and early spring) as the invasive bugs are less active (which means less borer type and less disease carriers), the trees dormancy means it doesnt loose a heap of stored energy in bleeding and has plenty of time to heal before its time do work on puting on leaves or new growth in spring.

Ring a local arborist and get a quote. smaller local companies are more likely to be able to fit it in cheaper than the big ones (who hate little jobs and charge like wounded bulls). If you really dont care about the trees you could get the lawnmowing franchise guys to do it, but the can be more expensive than arborists and do a much worse job. Take a pic of them and post it, I might be able to make recommendations.

[alanzs]

I was always told this was the time to prune, per the reasons mentioned above.

Of all the work to be done in the yard, for some perverse reason, I love trimming the trees. Something about that instant gratification. A few swipes with the extended pole saw, and it's a whole new tree. My wife refuses to allow me a chainsaw, as every tree, bush, hedge, etc. in the yard would be about shoulder height! Maybe some day.... :crybaby:

[Swoop]

...as the invasive bugs are less active (which means less borer type and less disease carriers), the trees dormancy means it doesnt loose a heap of stored energy in bleeding.
It has less to do with the "bugs" and more to do with the chemical movement that the tree does to stop the "wound".
He was talking about a study in the USA which has been conducted for quite a few years. Hundreds of trees that have been planted in the same area and the rows have different things done to them when young (various different ways of pruning, etc). Each year one tree from each row is cut down and the effects of the pruning are documented.
Heard anything about this? It sounds quite interesting.

[Timber020]

It has less to do with the "bugs" and more to do with the chemical movement that the tree does to stop the "wound".
He was talking about a study in the USA which has been conducted for quite a few years. Hundreds of trees that have been planted in the same area and the rows have different things done to them when young (various different ways of pruning, etc). Each year one tree from each row is cut down and the effects of the pruning are documented.
Heard anything about this? It sounds quite interesting.

Yeah I think this was one of the ISA projects influenced by the late Alex Shigos work. As far as im aware the jury is out on the official results, trees live a long time and adapt for different environments. Rules dont apply universally due to different influences (such as disease risk, different insect life cycles etc. Id still prune in winter.

[BIGBOSSMAN]

Yes, prune in winter when the buds (and sap) is dormant. In fruit trees (I have a Dip.hort) it's the time of winter hardening. Got a bit of that meself at the mo...:drool:

[karla]

You guys are awesome as usual, and inspiring. Kudos to Alanz for putting the idea of love and pruning, with the words "extended pole saw" into the same sentence.

It became a vision, and Trademe has made it a reality ... I just bought this new toy (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=161746309). Will give me something to do while I'm waiting for the sun to shine again so I can start riding my bike again. :wait:

Thanks all ~ :)