Blakesmaster
Addicted to ArboristSite
Half the time I'm just busting your chops, the other half I'm probably drunk. Don't mind me!
I have over ten years experience as an arborist im a c.a. and never power sheared a tree. I have nor the time or patience to explain why this is so wrong to a treeworker. I do stupid/questionable **** all the time I just dont post it on the web.
You should know...that's about all there is in SoCal.
Purple leaf plums are a pain. I've sheared them, I've pruned them, I've pruned them to restore after shearing. They watersprout if you look at them wrong driving down the street. Plus they are susceptible to just about every insect and disease out there.
I'm a CA but my attitude is very pragmatic. If it was sheared in the past I'll shear it again. If it wasn't sheared, then I'll reduce it using drop crotch but I won't shear if it hasn't been done previously (unless someone is creating a hedge). To my eye, a sheared tree is aesthetically jarring, I prefer a tree that has some texture and undulations as would be expected in an unsheared tree.
Given that shearing was the prescription, you did a good job. Hedging out of a bucket is hard on the back.
Those plums would probably last a little longer if they weren't sheared, the tree has to use a lot of its stored energy in generating all then new watersprouts and shoots.
He doesn't get under my skin , your right about there time , although I can squeeze 15 if I keep tight , now they are no different then a shrub , you hit em with hedge trimmers for god sakes , these guys just need something to seem educated about , and besides I haven't had a cigarette since Sunday night I quit cold turkey from a pack a day to nothing so right about now I am super irritable ! Prolly mostly my fault for just not ignoring stupidity
Don't let that guy get under your skin about shearing Purple Leaf Plums. The tree is only good for about 10 years any ca knows that. After that you should should start thinking about replacing it. The tree looks great. Wonder what he thinks about topiary, espalier, pollarding are these ca no no's?
Your world must suck.
Jeff
Before and after of a trim job today. Admittedly not my forte, this sweet lady owns several dozen properties, so we do almost anything ask. Any advice/improvements trim-wise? Thank you. View attachment 308389
View attachment 308390
It's a creepy tree.View attachment 308394View attachment 308395
I have worked on several thundercloud plums that are 40 plus years old. (Never sheared)what you referenced is done through time by hand. these methods of pruning are lower maintenence and typically for fruit production. With that said I really dont care what anyone does. I just do things the right way and call it like I see it. Works for me.
Looks pretty good. A couple of things caught my eye: some dead wood in the tree on the right; the three trees on the left have some visible crotches that look pretty tight - double check for included bark and if necessary lighten one stem to reduce the probability of peel out.
It's probably just the vantage point, but the thinning doesn't look consistent. You may want to look at it again to make sure the density and texture are consistent. Many others are going to #### on that concept, but look at the trees from your customer's eye. They see overall shape, density and texture. Also look at the trees from where your customers are going to look at it from eg front door, front window, walkway etc. Trees will look differently from different angles, you want it to look perfect from the spot the customer is likely to look at it.
Well, they said it was going to rain today... so I planned to do nothing. Hit the bank, got a haircut, scheduled a front end alignment for my dodge. Had to take the roof off, so the guy who hauls logs for me helped me take it off with his log truck. Looked at 1 job, have 2 more to check out tomorrow... thank goodness. Got 4 new tires for the Dodge... I had got prices of up to $400 each.. plus mounting. Went into 2 places today... 1 where I scheduled the front end alignment; $365 / tire + disposal and tax, and another was $299 / tire + tax. Had them do it on the spot... not that I wanted to, but it was too good of a deal to pass up.
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