When is the best time to deadwood? It's a question every gardener grapples with, whether tending a prize-winning rose bush or a sprawling vegetable patch. While the term "deadwooding" might conjure images of desolate winter landscapes, the truth is a bit more nuanced. There isn't one single perfect moment, but rather a window of opportunity that depends on the type of plant and your specific goals.
For many deciduous trees and shrubs, late winter or early spring, before the surge of new growth, is ideal. The plant is dormant, leaves are absent, and the skeletal structure is clearly visible, making it easy to identify dead, damaged, or diseased branches. This is also a good time to remove crossing or rubbing branches that could cause problems later in the season. Plus, pruning before spring growth minimizes stress on the plant and allows it to direct its energy into healthy new shoots.
Summer deadwooding is often necessary for removing suckers, water sprouts, and diseased or broken branches that appear during the growing season. This type of pruning is more about maintenance and preventing problems rather than a major shaping or rejuvenation. It's important to be cautious in the hottest months, as excessive pruning can stress the plant and make it more susceptible to sunscald.
Certain plants, like spring-flowering shrubs (lilacs, forsythia), are best pruned after they bloom. This allows you to enjoy their floral display while also removing spent flowers and any deadwood that becomes apparent. Pruning them in late winter or early spring would remove the developing flower buds, sacrificing the entire season's bloom.
Finally, fall can be a suitable time for light deadwooding, focusing on removing obviously dead or diseased branches. However, avoid heavy pruning in late fall, as new growth stimulated by pruning might not harden off before winter arrives, leaving the plant vulnerable to cold damage.
Ultimately, the best time to deadwood is when you can clearly see the structure of the plant and assess its needs. Armed with a sharp pair of pruners, a bit of knowledge about your specific plants, and an understanding of the basic principles of pruning, you can confidently tackle deadwooding and keep your garden thriving.
That gnarly, leafless branch sticking out like a sore thumb? Yep, that's deadwood. And while it might seem like a simple snip-snip-snap job, deciding between grabbing your pruning saw and calling in a professional tree service requires a bit more thought than you might think.
DIY deadwooding has its allure. It's satisfying, potentially saves you some money, and lets you feel more connected to your trees. For smaller branches on easily accessible trees, it can be a perfectly reasonable task. Armed with a sharp saw, some loppers, and a bit of common sense, you can often tidy things up quite nicely. YouTube is bursting with tutorials, and a little research can teach you the basics of proper pruning cuts to avoid harming the tree.
However, there's a definite line where DIY becomes dicey. Large branches, high branches, branches near power lines – these are all red flags. One wrong move could lead to serious injury, property damage, or even a nasty encounter with electricity. Professional arborists have the training, experience, and equipment to handle these tricky situations safely and effectively. They understand tree biology, know how to make the right cuts to promote healthy growth, and can even diagnose underlying problems that might be causing the dieback in the first place.
Think of it like this: you might change your own oil, but you wouldn't rebuild your car's engine. Similarly, pruning a few small dead branches is manageable for many homeowners, but tackling major deadwooding projects is best left to the experts. Ultimately, the decision comes down to an honest assessment of your skills, the complexity of the job, and the value you place on your safety and the health of your trees. Sometimes, calling a professional is the smartest DIY you can do.
Deadwooding, the removal of dead, dying, or diseased branches from a tree, might seem straightforward, but it's surprisingly hazardous. Ignoring safety precautions can lead to serious injury, or even worse. So, before you grab your saw and start hacking away, consider these important safety measures.
First and foremost, assess the situation. Look up – really look up. Are there power lines anywhere near the branches you're planning to remove? Contacting a power line with a saw or even a falling branch can be fatal. Similarly, be aware of your surroundings. Are there obstacles on the ground that could cause you to trip or stumble while carrying heavy branches? Clear the area before you begin.
Proper equipment is crucial. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, long pants, and gloves to protect yourself from cuts and scrapes. Eye protection is essential – flying wood chips and sawdust can easily damage your eyes. A helmet is also highly recommended, especially when working with larger branches.
When it comes to the actual cutting, technique matters. Use sharp, well-maintained tools appropriate for the size of the branch. Avoid overreaching or using a ladder improperly. A stable platform and secure footing are essential. If a branch is too high or too large to handle safely, it's best to call in a professional arborist. They have the expertise and equipment to handle these situations safely and effectively.
Finally, don't underestimate the weight of the branches you're cutting. Plan where they will fall and make sure the drop zone is clear. If necessary, use ropes to control the descent of larger branches. Cleaning up after yourself is also a safety precaution. Remove all debris from the area to prevent tripping hazards.
Deadwooding can be a satisfying way to improve the health and appearance of your trees, but it's not without risks. By taking the necessary safety precautions, you can minimize those risks and enjoy the rewards of a job well done.
The Benefits of Professional Deadwooding
Deadwood. It conjures images of dusty ghost towns and forgotten things, but when it comes to trees, deadwood refers to the dead branches clinging to an otherwise healthy tree. While it might seem harmless, or even add a certain rugged charm, deadwood poses a significant risk to your property and the tree's overall health. That's where professional deadwooding comes in. It's more than just tidying up – it's a vital practice for maintaining the safety, health, and beauty of your trees.
One of the most significant benefits of professional deadwooding is mitigating the risk of property damage. Dead branches are brittle and weakened, making them susceptible to breaking off, especially during strong winds or storms. A falling branch can damage your roof, car, or even injure someone below. Professional arborists have the expertise to identify and safely remove these hazardous limbs before they cause harm. They are equipped with the right tools and techniques to access high branches and dispose of the debris efficiently.
Beyond safety, deadwooding promotes the overall health of your tree. Dead branches can harbor insects and diseases that can spread to the healthy parts of the tree, compromising its vitality. By removing these infected limbs, professionals prevent the spread of disease and allow the tree to focus its resources on new growth. This also improves the tree's structure and appearance, creating a more aesthetically pleasing landscape.
Attempting to remove deadwood yourself can be dangerous and detrimental to the tree. Without the proper training and equipment, you risk injuring yourself or causing further damage to the tree. Improper cuts can create wounds that are susceptible to infection or decay. Professional arborists understand tree biology and know how to make precise cuts that minimize stress on the tree and encourage healthy healing.
In conclusion, while deadwood might seem like a minor issue, its removal is a crucial aspect of tree care. By investing in professional deadwooding, you are not only protecting your property and your family but also ensuring the long-term health and beauty of your trees. It's a worthwhile investment that pays dividends in safety, tree health, and peace of mind.
An arborist, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dendrology and horticulture.[citation needed]
Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests or harvesting wood (silviculture or forestry). An arborist's scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger.[citation needed]
In order for arborists to work near power wires, either additional training is required or they need to be certified as a Qualified Line Clearance Arborist or Utility Arborist (there may be different terminology for various countries). There is a variety of minimum distances that must be kept from power wires depending on voltage, however the common distance for low voltage lines in urban settings is 10 feet (about 3 metres).[1]
Arborists who climb (as not all do) can use a variety of techniques to ascend into the tree. The least invasive, and most popular technique used is to ascend on rope. There are two common methods of climbing, Single Rope System (SRS) and Moving Rope System (MRS). When personal safety is an issue, or the tree is being removed, arborists may use 'spikes', (also known as 'gaffs' or 'spurs') attached to their chainsaw boots with straps to ascend and work. Spikes wound the tree, leaving small holes where each step has been.[citation needed]
An arborist's work may involve very large and complex trees, or ecological communities and their abiotic components in the context of the landscape ecosystem. These may require monitoring and treatment to ensure they are healthy, safe, and suitable to property owners or community standards. This work may include some or all of the following: planting; transplanting; pruning; structural support; preventing, or diagnosing and treating phytopathology or parasitism; preventing or interrupting grazing or predation; installing lightning protection; and removing vegetation deemed as hazardous, an invasive species, a disease vector, or a weed.[citation needed]
Arborists may also plan, consult, write reports and give legal testimony. While some aspects of this work are done on the ground or in an office, much of it is done by arborists who perform tree services and who climb the trees with ropes, harnesses and other equipment. Lifts and cranes may be used too. The work of all arborists is not the same. Some may just provide a consulting service; others may perform climbing, pruning and planting: whilst others may provide a combination of all of these services.[2]
Arborists gain qualifications to practice arboriculture in a variety of ways and some arborists are more qualified than others. Experience working safely and effectively in and around trees is essential. Arborists tend to specialize in one or more disciplines of arboriculture, such as diagnosis and treatment of pests, diseases and nutritional deficiencies in trees, climbing and pruning, cabling and lightning protection, or consultation and report writing. All these disciplines are related to one another and some arborists are very well experienced in all areas of tree work, however not all arborists have the training or experience to properly practice every discipline.[citation needed]
Arborists choose to pursue formal certification, which is available in some countries and varies somewhat by location. An arborist who holds certification in one or more disciplines may be expected to participate in rigorous continuing education requirements to ensure constant improvement of skills and techniques.[citation needed]
In Australia, arboricultural education and training are streamlined countrywide through a multi-disciplinary vocational education, training, and qualification authority called the Australian Qualifications Framework, which offers varying levels of professional qualification. Government institutions including Technical and Further Education TAFE offer Certificate III or a diploma in arboriculture as well as some universities.[3][4] There are also many private institutions covering similar educational framework in each state. Recognition of prior learning is also an option for practicing arborists with 10 or more years of experience with no prior formal training. It allows them to be assessed and fast track their certification.[citation needed]
In France, a qualified arborist must hold a Management of Ornamental Trees certificate, and a qualified arborist climber must hold a Pruning and Care of Trees certificate; both delivered by the French Ministry of Agriculture.[5][6]
In the UK, an arborist can gain qualifications up to and including a master's degree. College-based courses include further education qualifications, such as national certificate, national diploma, while higher education courses in arboriculture include foundation degree, bachelor's degree and master's degree.[citation needed]
In the US, a Certified Arborist (CA) is a professional who has over three years of documented and verified experience and has passed a rigorous written test from the International Society of Arboriculture. Other designations include Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist and Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA). The USA and Canada additionally have college-based training which, if passed, will give the certificate of Qualified Arborist. The Qualified Arborist can then be used to offset partial experience towards the Certified Arborist.
Tree Risk Assessment Qualified credential (TRAQ), designed by the International Society of Arboriculture, was launched in 2013. At that time people holding the TRACE credential were transferred over to the TRAQ credential.[citation needed]
In Canada, there are provincially governed apprenticeship programs that allow arborists' to work near power lines upon completion. These apprenticeship programs must meet the provincial reregulations (For example, in B.C. they must meet WorkSafeBC G19.30), and individuals must ensure they meet the requirements of the owner of the power system.[citation needed]
Trees in urban landscape settings are often subject to disturbances, whether human or natural, both above and below ground. They may require care to improve their chances of survival following damage from either biotic or abiotic causes. Arborists can provide appropriate solutions, such as pruning trees for health and good structure, for aesthetic reasons, and to permit people to walk under them (a technique often referred to as "crown raising"), or to keep them away from wires, fences and buildings (a technique referred to as "crown reduction").[7] Timing and methods of treatment depend on the species of tree and the purpose of the work. To determine the best practices, a thorough knowledge of local species and environments is essential.[citation needed]
There can be a vast difference between the techniques and practices of professional arborists and those of inadequately trained tree workers. Some commonly offered "services" are considered unacceptable by modern arboricultural standards and may seriously damage, disfigure, weaken, or even kill trees. One such example is tree topping, lopping, or "hat-racking", where entire tops of trees or main stems are removed, generally by cross-cutting the main stem(s) or leaders, leaving large unsightly stubs. Trees that manage to survive such treatment are left prone to a spectrum of detrimental effects, including vigorous but weakly attached regrowth, pest susceptibility, pathogen intrusion, and internal decay.[8]
Pruning should only be done with a specific purpose in mind. Every cut is a wound, and every leaf lost is removal of photosynthetic potential. Proper pruning can be helpful in many ways, but should always be done with the minimum amount of live tissue removed.[9]
In recent years, research has proven that wound dressings such as paint, tar or other coverings are unnecessary and may harm trees. The coverings may encourage growth of decay-causing fungi. Proper pruning, by cutting through branches at the right location, can do more to limit decay than wound dressing [10]
Chemicals can be applied to trees for insect or disease control through soil application, stem injections or spraying. Compacted or disturbed soils can be improved in various ways.[citation needed]
Arborists can also assess trees to determine the health, structure, safety or feasibility within a landscape and in proximity to humans. Modern arboriculture has progressed in technology and sophistication from practices of the past. Many current practices are based on knowledge gained through recent research, including that of Alex Shigo, considered one "father" of modern arboriculture.[11]
Depending on the jurisdiction, there may be a number of legal issues surrounding the practices of arborists, including boundary issues, public safety issues, "heritage" trees of community value, and "neighbour" issues such as ownership, obstruction of views, impacts of roots crossing boundaries, nuisance problems, disease or insect quarantines, and safety of nearby trees or plants that may be affected.[citation needed]
Arborists are frequently consulted to establish the factual basis of disputes involving trees, or by private property owners seeking to avoid legal liability through the duty of care.[12] Arborists may be asked to assess the value of a tree[13] in the process of an insurance claim for trees damaged or destroyed,[14] or to recover damages resulting from tree theft or vandalism.[15] In cities with tree preservation orders an arborist's evaluation of tree hazard may be required before a property owner may remove a tree, or to assure the protection of trees in development plans and during construction operations. Carrying out work on protected trees and hedges is illegal without express permission from local authorities,[16] and can result in legal action including fines.[17] Homeowners who have entered into contracts with a Homeowner's association (see also Restrictive covenants) may need an arborists' professional opinion of a hazardous condition prior to removing a tree, or may be obligated to assure the protection of the views of neighboring properties prior to planting a tree or in the course of pruning.[18] Arborists may be consulted in forensic investigations where the evidence of a crime can be determined within the growth rings of a tree, for example. Arborists may be engaged by one member of a dispute in order to identify factual information about trees useful to that member of the dispute, or they can be engaged as an expert witness providing unbiased scientific knowledge in a court case. Homeowners associations seeking to write restrictive covenants, or legislative bodies seeking to write laws involving trees, may seek the counsel of arborists in order to avoid future difficulties.[19]
Before undertaking works in the UK, arborists have a legal responsibility to survey trees for wildlife, especially bats, which are given particular legal protection. In addition, any tree in the UK can be covered by a tree preservation order and it is illegal to conduct any work on a tree, including deadwooding or pruning, before permission has been sought from the local council.[citation needed]
The protagonist in Italo Calvino's novel The Baron in the Trees lives life on the ground as a boy and spends the rest of his life swinging from tree to tree in the Italian countryside. As a young man he helps the local fruit farmers by pruning their trees.[citation needed]
Some noteworthy arborists include:
Tree care is the application of arboricultural methods like pruning, trimming, and felling/thinning[1] in built environments. Road verge, greenways, backyard and park woody vegetation are at the center of attention for the tree care industry. Landscape architecture and urban forestry[2][3] also set high demands on professional tree care. High safety standards against the dangers of tree care have helped the industry evolve. Especially felling in space-limited environments poses significant risks: the vicinity of power or telephone lines, insufficient protective gear (against falling dead wood, chainsaw wounds, etc.) and narrow felling zones with endangered nearby buildings, parking cars, etc.. The required equipment and experience usually transcends private means and is often considered too costly as a permanent part of the public infrastructure. In singular cases, traditional tools like handsaws may suffice, but large-scale tree care usually calls for heavy machinery like cranes, bucket trucks, harvesters, and woodchippers.
Road side trees are especially prone to abiotic stress by exhaust fumes, toxic road debris, soil compaction, and drought which makes them susceptible to fungal infections and various plant pests[4] like the spotted lantern fly.[5] When tree removal is not an option, because of road ecology considerations, the main challenge is to achieve road safety (visibility of road signs, blockage-free lanes, etc.) while maintaining tree health.
While the perceived risk of death by falling trees (a part of the "tree risk" complex) is influenced by media and often hyped (the objective risk has been reported to be close to 1 : 10.000.000, almost as low as death by lightning),[6] singular events have encouraged a "proactive" stance so that even lightly damaged trees are likely to be removed in urban and public traffic surroundings.[3] As a tree ages and nears the end of its safe useful life expectancy (SULE),[7] its perceived amenity value is decreased greatly. A risk assessment normally carried out by local council's arborist to determine the best course of action.[8][9] As with all public green spaces, trees in green urban spaces and their careful conservation is sometimes in conflict with aggressive urban development even though it is often understood how urban trees contribute to liveability of suburbs and cities both objectively (reduction of urban heat island effect, etc.) and subjectively.[10][11][12][13] Tree planting programs implemented by a growing number of cities, local councils and organizations is mitigating the losses and in most cases increasing the number of trees in suburbia.[14] Programs include the planting of 2 trees for every 1 tree removed, while some councils are paying land owners to keep trees instead of removing them for farming or construction.[15]
The voluntary industry consensus standards developed by TCIA, resulted in the ANSI A300 standard, the generally accepted industry standard for tree care practices including trees, shrubs, and other woody plants.[16] It includes the following parts:
Urban Forestry maintains 4.1 million trees on public property, which includes an estimated 3.5 million trees within Toronto's parks and ravines, and approximately 600,000 trees on City streets. ... The focus of our maintenance service is shifting progressively from reactive maintenance to proactive maintenance.
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Ho Chi Minh City has announced a plan to move and cut down 300 trees on Ton Duc Thang Street in District 1 to make space for a bridge connecting to District 2 and a metro station.