Root Pruning

[Tom Dunlap]

Stay off the roots.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Haha! Cool, Tom.

 

[Dadatwins]

Earth to Dada: Roots Grow!

Second Revelation: Wounded Roots Rot!



This was the first thing i talked about at Midatlantic ISA's Field Day last Sep in Byrd Park, right near you. You musta missed it. hope you missed hte indoor one too; it wasn't so hot. I met a guy form the City of Richmond at the Field Day and he said he read the book and passed it on. And Richmond is still grinding roots?

Unfortunately, yes there is still root grinding happening, even after documentation and teaching and such. And believe it or not trees are still planted to deep or to shallow, and mulch rings are to small or to high and so on. Anyway, enough with the sarcasm on my part, I know that any damage to the root system of the tree is that, Damage. In the ideal solution would be ramping of sidewalks and curves and powdered concrete, but sadly the real world is only a reality show on MTV. We sometimes must work in a situation that we choose between removing the tree to replace the sidewalk, or skim some root off and let the tree stay around to provide some shade. Safety of the public always comes first and cutting to much root that would create an unstable situation would warrant tree removal. In the past Richmond has always root pruned with a backhoe. We all know the results of that type of pruning. Skimming roots an inch or so and replacing sidewalk in not ideal situation by far, but neither is removal of an 80 year old oak simply because of refusal to skim off 2" of a 8" root under the sidewalk. Wish some new policies and techniques would be used, but moving to root skimming vs. backhoe was and is a pretty big step for the city.

 

[treeseer]

We sometimes must work in a situation that we choose between removing the tree to replace the sidewalk, or skim some root off and let the tree stay around to provide some shade. ... moving to root skimming vs. backhoe was and is a pretty big step for the city.

OK, that is an improvement, I'll grant you that. I have to wonder though, where is the disconnect with getting PW to consider the cheaper options #1-3 that are better for the tree? #3 is so easy and cheap. It may not last as long as it takes a skimmed root to rot and hollow out the trunk, but still, grinding edges and ramping will create a trip-free surface for years.

It would really help if you could walk through #1-3 and let us know what the obstacles are to their adoption.

 

[treeseer]

From page 31:"Root shaving...is used infrequently...:the potential for root decay is high and callus growth (and annual thickening of the root as well) in the cut area may cause sidewalk damage. (again). Ten years ago in sheffield England this happened--scar tissue lifted the sidewalk soon after, and rot was traced from the cut to the stump. B. C. Nicoll has published a lot of research on this.

If these negative experiences were more widely known, they may not be repeated. Buy the book, it's only $20. Maybe the crew can pool their money and buy a copy for their bosses, and highlight key sections. You know, take them by the hand and walk gently into the 21st century. The City of Raleigh is ramping their replacement sidewalk over an oak's roots.

If my boss told me to shave a root, I'd be concerned about personal liability. Sovereign immunity doesn't go as far as it used to.

I realize this is difficult--bureaucracies are slow to change. But if there's a better way to speed change up, I'd like to hear it.

The book also shows Walt Warriner's work with sidewalk alternatives. They are very easy to follow. Re orgs, the isa commissioned and published this book. Its up to the buyers to apply it

ps walt's running for isa president.

 

[Dadatwins]

If these negative experiences were more widely known, they may not be repeated. Buy the book, it's only $20. Maybe the crew can pool their money and buy a copy for their bosses, and highlight key sections. You know, take them by the hand and walk gently into the 21st century. The City of Raleigh is ramping their replacement sidewalk over an oak's roots.

I will check into the book, thanks for the tip. $20.00 not that bad for new ideas and since I am the crew I can swing it. The convincing of the bosses and the long walk into the 21 century might take more than a handhold though.

I realize this is difficult--bureaucracies are slow to change. But if there's a better way to speed change up, I'd like to hear it.

I would love to hear it also, the way they were convinced to at least try skimming rather than backhoe was based more on cost than care of trees, cheaper to send a small grinder and a grubbing hoe instead of a backhoe crew.
Convincing the powers that be that the tree might actually have some benefit is the most difficult task of all.