Is it Topping?

[Marquis]

Hey gang, just wanting to know what to do here. I don't have any pics yet, but will get some. Local guy wants me to "trim" this tree he has which is in some power lines and over an apartment, not a big deal. But then he mentions that he wants it "trimmed" up top. To do what he is asking sounds like topping to me which I really don't want to do. Looks bad, which he even said, but went on to say looks good in a few years, his words, honest! They are both white birch, about 30 feet in height. Any thoughts? Will try to post some pics. Thanks.

 

[Nailsbeats]

If it is in the power you have to cut it back, period. White Birch isn't going to take a whole lot of abuse. It's the classic senario. They should just be removed if they are in a bad spot, but if he won't go for it and want's to pay you to top them and then come back and remove them when they die, then I say GO FOR IT!

 

[joehusker]

trim them like he wants them. they will become stressed and attract bronze birch borer and them you can treat or remove them later. white birch cant handle much pruning. obviously let the customer know.

 

[ropensaddle]

I understand not wanting to top I have a job that trees have extreme crown dieback and am going to remove the dead and do a crown reduction by doing so. I am going to put on the estimate no guarantee to trees health to cma and recommend mulch! New golf course, land was stripped and trees that remained are all suffering, many with mechanical damage! What native soil remains is compacted daily and I informed the manager the compaction is a factor in thc as well as over fertilization!

 

[clearance]

tree he has which is in some power lines and not a big deal. Any thoughts?

Powerlines are always a big deal, treat them with great respect, or you may be fried, from the inside out. Call up the power co. you owe it to yourself and people that care about you.

 

[Nailsbeats]

Clearance, you misquoted the man. What he is saying in context is that the tree is not a big deal, the way you misquoted him implies that he believes the power is not a big deal. Any fool knows that power is a big deal and you are right about that, just quoted out of context.

 

[CLEARVIEW TREE]

Regardless

The fact that the trees are even asscociated with lines is a hazard! I have heard diff tree guys before say this same thing, it's classic......"Ya uhh powerlines ..no biggy"! Well maybe not if its a take off from a house, but screw with a primary and see how much fried meat ya got! You have to respect all known and remotely known hazards! Period, or your name will be placed free of charge in the paper and i'll bet you it will not be an ad either!! :censored:

 

[BC WetCoast]

I'm assuming that the power lines in question are the service drops, because if they were the primaries or secondaries, the power company would have already dealt with them. If it is the primary or secondaries, get the power company to pay for it.

My question would be, what do you have left once you have clearance pruned the power lines and the apartment building?

Reducing a tree height by drop crotch pruning is not topping.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Severe reduction by a Certified Arborist is what I call intellectually applied topping.

The topping or reduction is not really the problem. It's often that the tree was planted beneath that's the problem.

It's like it's the pits to take a guy's lung out. That sucks. But if he decided to smoke, the problem was not the doctor removing part of his lungs - the problem was smoking.

 

[ropensaddle]

Severe reduction by a Certified Arborist is what I call intellectually applied topping.

The topping or reduction is not really the problem. It's often that the tree was planted beneath that's the problem.

It's like it's the pits to take a guy's lung out. That sucks. But if he decided to smoke, the problem was not the doctor removing part of his lungs - the problem was smoking.

It sometimes; as in the case I mentioned, is at the base or soil
problems! I agree with you mostly, however; what is the differance
between a veteran tree man armed with much study and practical
experiance doing the reduction and a certified arborist? Also in the
case I mentioned, if the turf is more important to the customer than
the tree and they don't take advise to limit compaction by mulching
critical root zone, what would a certification change? I plan to test
someday, but really the cost benefit seems trivial. I ask, I have many
books and time spent in study do you feel it has to have a cert to
make it good phc?

 

[Bermie]

....however; what is the differance
between a veteran tree man armed with much study and practical
experiance doing the reduction and a certified arborist?...

NOTHING!!

 

[clearance]

I'm assuming that the power lines in question are the service drops, because if they were the primaries or secondaries, the power company would have already dealt with them. If it is the primary or secondaries, get the power company to pay for it.

Here in B.C. secondaries are what service drops come from, secondaries/service drops are both the same voltage if they are the three small lines stacked on top of each other under the primary. Whether the secondaries run along the poles or the service comes right off the transformer they are usually 240 volts.

However, secondary voltage can be much higher, like to a business, institiution etc. Best not to mess about. And the power company may have not already dealt with it. B.C. Hydro has lots of trees burning on the primary, and lots that is violating colum "A" limits. Its called being cheap.

 

[ropensaddle]

Here in B.C. secondaries are what service drops come from, secondaries/service drops are both the same voltage if they are the three small lines stacked on top of each other under the primary. Whether the secondaries run along the poles or the service comes right off the transformer they are usually 240 volts.

However, secondary voltage can be much higher, like to a business, institiution etc. Best not to mess about. And the power company may have not already dealt with it. B.C. Hydro has lots of trees burning on the primary, and lots that is violating colum "A" limits. Its called being cheap.

Open wire secondaries stink and are not used here no more.
Their are a lot still in service but mostly triplex! Open wire secondaries
are the easiest to short and sometimes the sag is altered or improperly
adjusted and a stinking small chunk can make fireworks. I always hated
those but can trim around any of them.

 

[clearance]

Open wire secondaries stink and are not used here no more.
Their are a lot still in service but mostly triplex! Open wire secondaries
are the easiest to short and sometimes the sag is altered or improperly
adjusted and a stinking small chunk can make fireworks. I always hated
those but can trim around any of them.

Lots of old skanky secondaries around, they burn down and get replaced. Most secondaries started out covered with weatherstripping, but it doesn't last forever.

 

[ropensaddle]

Lots of old skanky secondaries around, they burn down and get replaced. Most secondaries started out covered with weatherstripping, but it doesn't last forever.

Here they are mostly bare but the worst is the old copper coat steel,
too flimsy not many of those left in service anymore

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I understand not wanting to top I have a job that trees have extreme crown dieback and am going to remove the dead

I did a huge bur oak for my church a few years ago where all I removed is dead, and the thing looks like a nasty topped round-over. I should get some pics posted for contrast.

I offered to remove at same cost, but some parishioners petitioned to keep it.

Probably got hammered when they redid the parking-lot 15 years ago.

 

[Marquis]

Sorry it's taking me so long to get back to you guys. Full time truck driver, just got back. Thanks for all the info, will talk some more to the guy, and did planning on chatting with power co. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks!!