Stress Detection in Trees

[treevet]

Last week I went to the hospital to take a stress test. Got on the tread mill and they measured the performance of my heart to the norm (mine). Everything is fine, just had some indicators that concerned me as I live a very strenuous life and, well, I am getting pretty old.

I got home and in the mail was my monthly issue of SCA Today from the Society of Com. Arb. Inside it coincidentally was a very good article about stress testing in trees.

They weren't put on the treadmill.....but they discussed many interesting tests that we can employ or have someone more qualified perform to test trees against the norm to theoretically identify our beloved trees that are in a weakened state prior to getting to the point that they are beyond hope or severely compromised by secondary stresses that may be the proverbial straw on the camel's back.

Interesting article...

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

Very interesting study, I actually am studying some stress in one of my trees. My large red maple has one of its largest trunks going off in a horizontal direction putting a tremendous amount of stress at the base of the trunk split. The trunk is actually redish at the split, can you and anyone verify the reding being caused from stress?

 

[pdqdl]

Cool stuff.

I'm looking forward to the day when I can pull out my StarTrek styled, portable chlorophyl-fluorescence "tri-corder" and tell my customers what is wrong with their tree.

Hmmm...in the wrong hands, that could lead to a LOT of removals.

 

[treevet]

At first glance that appears to be abiotic in nature as there appears to have been barked scraped off. Could be some Hypoxylon involved there. Further investigation would be nec.

Big hanger up there that should be addressed as it could fall on someone.

 

[treevet]

Cool stuff.

I'm looking forward to the day when I can pull out my StarTrek styled, portable chlorophyl-fluorescence "tri-corder" and tell my customers what is wrong with their tree.

Hmmm...in the wrong hands, that could lead to a LOT of removals.

Or Picus stress-wave tomograph (advanced futuristic model) and be able to scope the entire tree from the ground for any decay and get an instant read out and a hard copy.

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

At first glance that appears to be abiotic in nature as there appears to have been barked scraped off. Further investigation would be nec.

So probably not any harm to the tree? I'm trying desperately to help this tree If you have a chance please visit my forum under homeowner help "Old Growth Red Maples"

Big hanger up there that should be addressed as it could fall on someone.

I have no way or I would. If anyone got hurt they were trespassing its on private property. I need a bucket I have a 40ft extension but I was told I should wait until next summer or spring to make any cuts.

 

[treevet]

I'll go over there when I get a little more time and see if I can contribute anything (4 pages eeeek). :computer:

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

I'll go over there when I get a little more time and see if I can contribute anything (4 pages eeeek). :computer:

Yeah I know its kind of scary with its length but don't be afraid to pop in and comment on anything without even knowing whats going on. Id estimate over 50% of the pages to be my pictures alone. See you soon! ~Nate

 

[zopi]

two words: mood ring.

 

[treeseer]

re red spot on maple, needs check by someone who knows live tissue from dead before cleaning out dead material and assessing. but first the tree needs pruning. i'll be up there early feb if you want it done cheap (and good).

re the sca today, yes percival is good at showing us the cutting edge but as far as getting and using the gear that's up to us. intimidating to most incl. me.

also the BBB ad at the end--unfortunate pic of a cut about to rip; how-not-to!

much better to show the undercut further out. sca should find an arborist to first vet the stuff they sell.

 

[treevet]

re red spot on maple, needs check by someone who knows live tissue from dead before cleaning out dead material and assessing. but first the tree needs pruning. i'll be up there early feb if you want it done cheap (and good).

I would be more inclined to allow the tree to establish callus around the wound and showing you where IT wants to draw the line.

re the sca today, yes percival is good at showing us the cutting edge but as far as getting and using the gear that's up to us. intimidating to most incl. me.

I kind of took this art. to illustrate the potential for development of future tools for us arb's that are already being used in other professions to augment decisions. Lord knows we can use all the help we can get to improve on educated guesses and improve on us always showing up when it is too late and all that can be done is fumble around for profit (incl. removal, replacement, firewood and stump grinding eventuality).

 

[PinkFloydEffect]

re red spot on maple, needs check by someone who knows live tissue from dead before cleaning out dead material and assessing. but first the tree needs pruning. i'll be up there early feb if you want it done cheap (and good).

I'll take any help I can get, I'll start saving Christmas money (what kid saves is xmas money to have a tree pruned) any idea how much ROUGHLY it will cost me? Its safe pruning a old growth tree in Feb? I wish I had money to have it looked at my a professional I'm determined for this tree to be passed down generation to generation to my kids and I hope maintained by them as well.

 

[treevet]

I'll take any help I can get, I'll start saving Christmas money (what kid saves is xmas money to have a tree pruned) any idea how much ROUGHLY it will cost me? Its safe pruning a old growth tree in Feb? I wish I had money to have it looked at my a professional I'm determined for this tree to be passed down generation to generation to my kids and I hope maintained by them as well.

You can't go wrong if you get Treeseer involved with it.

 

[treevet]

Pretty neat stuff, Treevet. Thanks for sharing.

I guess we're pals again....

 

[treeseer]

I'll take any help I can get, I'll start saving Christmas money (what kid saves is xmas money to have a tree pruned) any idea how much ROUGHLY it will cost me? Its safe pruning a old growth tree in Feb?

Yes early Feb is a good time. pm me your address and email and we can look at numbers and maybe get the owner to chip in.

Dave, Dan: Please look at that BBB graphic. Is that how you guys would cut that branch?

 

[treevet]

Dave, Dan: Please look at that BBB graphic. Is that how you guys would cut that branch?

Nope....looks like the branch will definitely tear through the branch collar (with no undercut and such a long branch to be removed) and also looks like the saw will come down near his leg and foot (right under it) when the cut is finished esp. if the limb holds wood and tears back.

Wonder why the BBB "redesigned this helpful consumer brochure" for the SCA?

 

[treevet]

Yeah I considered that too but then thought....nah they woulda probably included that in the pict.

 

[treeseer]

Looks like a good 4' of limb there, and plenty heavy, even if roped. Perfect balancing point hahahahahahaha that does feel good when it happens but that's rare, and even then the butt can break off funny and rip or split. ANSI A300 part 1 5.3.6: "Branches too large to support with one hand SHALL be precut to avoid splitting of the wood or tearing of the bark..."

I gotta go with the Standard on this one; shall means ya gotta. Of course I've done a few like that on real dead ones, but that's nothing to print. It seems the pic was vetted well for PPE, but they forgot the arboriculture. :angry2: