Originally posted by Guy Meilleur
All crown trimming does not constitute "damage" by any definition of the word; sneaking that allegation in to a drought post does not fit and does not fly. What you said about root dieback is true, but your rant on crown trimming is not.
If I understand you, removing branches from a tree is not bad, in fact, I think you feel it benefits the tree to some extent. I ask about the roots because I always think about the relationship between roots and crown. I figure if it's good to cut limbs, perhaps it's good to cut roots.
Is it damage to a tree if a trencher digs past a tree and removes about ten percent of the roots? In this hypothetical case, let's assume the tree does not die, or lose a lot of limbs from the crown due to dieback.
What if the tree is perfect, should I still remove some crown?
Next I get to thinking about how much of each needs to be trimmed. Should I take 10% of each the roots and the crown, each year, or just the crown?
Maybe I should spread it out over three years. Perhaps do the roots this year and the crown next.
This theory of yours is new to me, so be paitent with all my questions.
What if you take the prescribed amount of the tree, then the wind blows and takes more off, is that damage? If it is, then is the trimming the damage, or the wind fall?
What if that same tree gets a new owner who decides to build a new house and the soil gets compacted and the roots cut off, then is the original trimming "damage"?
What if the tree was a mature tree and the crown reduction just pushed it over the edge, and it spirals to its' death in a few years, is it damage then?
Will a tree who just had a crown reduction be better off in the event of a drought, with all the root damage we agreed about? Will the wounds from the crown reduction compartmentalize effectively with the stress of losing foliage and roots to this hypothetical drought?
Opps, I forgot, crown loss does not stress a tree, as long as proper thinning cuts are made. As you answer all these questions, don't forget to say exactly how much, too big tree crowns are, so I can start removing the proper amount from those I work on.