Minnesota Tree Care Advocate People Helping Trees Help Communities

Transcription

1 University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources Minnesota Tree Care Advocate People Helping Trees Help Communities Minnesota Citizen Pruner Training ELY Ashley Reichard, Volunteer Programs Coordinator

2 Minnesota Citizen Pruner PROGRAM OVERVIEW

3 WHO S WHO Gary Johnson - Director: directs and administers the program; oversees development and delivery of education and program operations. Contact: johns054@umn.edu Ashley Reichard - UCF Volunteer Programs Coordinator organizes and relays program information to volunteers. Contact: info@mntca.org Harold Langowski City Contact: manages brush pick up and can aid in indentifying public vs. private property. Contact: elyod@ely.mn.us

4 MINNESOTA TREE CARE ADVOCATE Minnesota Tree Care Advocate is an organization of volunteers throughout the state all dedicated to the benefits and health of community forests and helping the public realize those benefits. It includes three community forestry programs: Tree Care Advisor (1993) Citizen Pruner (2013) Tree Steward (2016) Tree Care Advocates are people helping trees help communities.

5 MINNESOTA CITIZEN PRUNER Pilot program began in 2013 in Rochester, MN Now in 15 communities throughout the state. To learn more, visit: Connection with the University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources and the City of Ely

6 CITIZEN PRUNERS CREED To uphold volunteerism as a way to meet the urban forest needs of Minnesota To represent the program with dignity and respect by being a positive spokesperson for the program and the city To be courteous, civil, and respectful. To promote tree care best practices.

7 IMPORTANCE OF MINNESOTA CITIZEN PRUNER Volunteers manage small branches near the ground while tree care professionals can focus on larger branches higher in the tree canopies A.K.A. Budget Cuts Vital for clearing sight lines, blocked sidewalks, health of the tree in the future

8 COMMUNICATIONS Websites: Contact:

9 CERTIFICATION & RECERTIFICATION Certification: Open book competency assessment which you will pass by answering correctly 75% of questions Good for 3 years if completing required hours each year Recertification: 10 volunteer hours or 3 city hosted events each calendar year (submitted hours online to MNTCA) Pass renewal competency assessment every 3 years You will be contacted by Program Coordinator Digital or physical access to the competency assessment

10 Minnesota Citizen Pruner WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC & SAFETY

11 WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC People will be interested in what you are doing. Show them your Citizen Pruner ID Explain that you passed a Competency Assessment and that you are a volunteer for Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board If you receive any negative response to your pruning or planting, cease immediately and inform your city contact.

12 QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC The public will see you as a source of knowledge. They may ask you to look at their private tree. Refer them to the Tree Owners Manual or recommend consulting a Certified Arborist. They may have a question about their boulevard tree. Connect them with their city contact. They may ask you when their sidewalk will be replaced or another city question. I m a volunteer. I m not employed by the city.

13 PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE Typically feet from curb Park trees Public property grounds If ever unsure contact city representative

14 SAFETY Don t prune trees that are within 10 feet of utility lines Keep both feet on the ground Be aware of your surroundings this includes where the branch you are pruning will fall and where you and others are in relation to that branch Follow the dress code

15 Minnesota Citizen Pruner MANAGING BRUSH & TOOLS OF THE TRADE

16 MANAGING BRUSH Manage brush safely for citizens Keep it cleared from the street and sidewalk No higher than 30 piles Not hanging in sidewalks or roads Place brush a safe distance away from fire hydrants and intersections 10 + away from hydrants and intersections

17 MANAGING BRUSH (CON T.) Managing brush for your city Make as few piles as possible so that pickup is easy Place all pruned ends on the same side and if possible, face the street If brush it to large to fit with pruned ends facing the street, pile the brush parallel with the street.

18 TOOLS OF THE TRADE Bypass Pruners Curved Blades 1-inch Cutting Capacity Handsaws 2-inch Cutting Capacity Close all tools when you are not using them for your safety and others safety.

19 HOW TO USE PRUNING TOOLS Bypass Pruners Place the large blade on the underside of the branch to follow the pressure you will place on the tool. If you cannot comfortably fit your hand around the pruners with a branch between blades, use a handsaw. Do NOT twist the pruners when making a pruning cut. You will tear the branch and make the wound much larger than it should be. Handsaws To be efficient, make long, clean cuts. The momentum of pulling the full blade along the branch will result in you maker fewer pulls with the handsaw and a clearer ending cut. Face the handsaw blades away from the stem of the tree or other branches since your blade can accidentally hit it.

20 TOOL CLEANING PROCEDURE Clean off all debris and dirt with soap and water Disinfect with rubbing alcohol Spray blade with penetrating oil or water-displacing spray to prevent rusting

21 Minnesota Citizen Pruner TREE IDENTIFICATION & PRUNING RESTRICTIONS

22 LEAF CHARACTERISTICS Figure 51. Leaf characteristics for tree ID.

23 RESTRICTIONS? Correctly identifying the type of tree about to be pruned is the first crucial step in pruning trees. Different species of trees are susceptible to diseases at different times of year. Pruning trees at the wrong time can lead to infection.

24 AMERICAN BASSWOOD

25 OAKS

26 OAKS

27 OAKS

28 OAKS

29 OAKS WHY? Safe to prune typically between November through March Pruning at the wrong time of year may lead to infection of oak wilt. If you MUST prune during risky period, spray wound immediately with shellac. Reference:

30 ELMS

31 ELMS WHY? Prune when possible between November through March People believe spring and summer pruning leads to Dutch elm disease infections. Not proven scientifically, but try telling that to someone whose mind is made up.

32 ASH

33 ASH WHY? Typically can be pruned September through April Pruning shouldn t take place during Emerald Ash Borer flight season

34 HONEYLOCUST

35 HONEYLOCUST WHY? Avoid wet weather when pruning. Prune during heat of summer or from late fall to late winter. Nectria canker is spread through insects and pruning tools.

36 CRABAPPLE

37 MOUNTAIN ASH

38 CRABAPPLE + MOUNTAIN ASH WHY? Best to prune from late summer through early April. Susceptible to Fireblight, a bacterial disease that can be spread via pruning tools. Spray tools with 70%+ rubbing alcohol and flame between cuts to sterilize and prevent infection.

39 Minnesota Citizen Pruner TYPES OF REMOVALS

40 TYPES OF REMOVALS Tree Stem Protections Systems Mulch Volcanoes Suckers Sprouts Included bark Co-dominant leaders Crossing or rubbing branches Good spacing between branches Deadwood Temporary branches

41 TREE STEM PROTECTION SYSTEMS Protects trees from weed whips, lawnmowers, animals and herbicides. If left on too long can girdle stems and restrict water and nutrient uptake. Should be removed when too tight. Keep them separate from pruning debris

42 MULCH VOLCANOES Mulch piled too close to the tree stem/trunk. Creates environment that promotes Stem Girdling Roots, insects, and diseases.

43 SUCKERS Suckersdevelop at the base of the trunk or off the tree s root system. Can occur because of being planted too deeply (Lindens/basswood) Some trees are naturally prone to suckering (elms, crabapples, tree lilac) Can block sight lines, sidewalks and streets.

44 SPROUTS Fast-growing, often very upright branch that emerges from the tree trunk Can block site lines creating safety issues Sprouts form weak branch unions.

45 INCLUDED BARK Bark grows in between a branch union which prevents branch from attaching correctly Forms a weak union

46 CO-DOMINANT LEADERS Describes two or more main stems that are about the same diameter and emerge from approximately the same location on the trunk. The closer in size a branch is to the main stem, the more likely it is to fail. Look for leaders that are central to the stem, and straight in nature. Also be aware of leaders that have the best structure with good branch attachments. Suppression cuts

47 CROSSING/RUBBING BRANCHES Collision or potential collision of two branches Can slough bark and injure the cambial layer of the branch, which makes the branch more prone to decay or disease

48 GOOD SPACING BETWEEN BRANCHES Vertical space between branches should eventually be 12 inches for fruit or small stature trees, and 18 inches for medium and large stature deciduous trees Without proper spacing, it s more likely that branches will begin to cross or rub.

49 DEADWOOD When pruning branches with deadwood and live wood, prune only deadwood and save as much of the live wood as possible. The deadwood on a live branch should always be pruned back to a node Before After

50 TEMPORARY BRANCHES Trees grow outwards, not upwards, so branches that you see now will remain at the same height until you or a storm remove them. The average is clearance needed is 14.5 feet in height.

51 Minnesota Citizen Pruner PRUNING FUNDAMENTALS

52 TWO RULES TO KEEP IN MIND 1. Always keep a good Live Crown Ratio. This means that for deciduous trees 60% of the tree should be in Live Crown, and for coniferous trees this means 75% should be in Live Crown 2. Never remove more than 25% of the trees Live Crown in one pruning season.

53 PRUNING BRANCH MATERIAL Identify branch collar Locate the branch bark ridge Avoid cutting into the branch bark ridge or the branch collar. Branch Bark Ridge Branch Collar

54 PRUNING BRANCH MATERIAL: <1 INCH DIAMETER Hand support branch Identify the branch collar Prune sprouts just beyond the branch collar because it makes a smaller wound that does not injure the main stem.

55 PRUNING BRANCH MATERIAL: 1-2 INCH DIAMETER Three-cut method: 1. Make a shallow cut on the underside of the branch 1 or 2 feet out from the branch union. 2. Make a top cut all the way through the branch slightly farther out than the first cut to leave a short nub. 3. Remove the nub by cutting just outside the branch collar. 2nd Cut 3rd Cut 1st Cut

56 REDUCTION CUT Pruning to a node is used when pruning out deadwood or when making a suppression cut, also known as a reduction cut. A reduction cut shortens the stem back to a lateral branch or to a node. Future growth is forced into the unpruned branches.

57 PRUNING SUCKERS Suckers should be pruned as close to and as parallel with the ground as possible. Suckers that form on the base of the trunk should be pruned similarly to sprouts. Prune small suckers growing out of the trunk s base with bypass pruners just outside the branch collar or area of swelling (if present). Whenever possible, saw away from the trunk to lower the risk of injuring the stem.

58 Minnesota Citizen Pruner POOR PRUNING & COMPARTMENTALIZATION

59 BARK RIPPING Occurs when the three-cut method is not used to remove large branches. Happens when pruning cut is made by starting the cut on the top side of the branch. The branch fails because it doesn t have enough support, causing the bark at the base of the branch to tear.

60 FLUSH CUTTING Occurs when a pruning cut is made close to the stem and removes part of the cambium layer, the stem s living tissue. This inhibits the flow of water and nutrients up the stem, and can affect branch development in the canopy and can cause decay.

61 STUB CUTTING Occurs when a branch is not pruned just outside the branch collar. Takes longer for the tree to grow new wood and bark over the wound.

62 PRUNING IS WOUNDING Trees don t heal The larger the wound the larger potential problem Callus tissue seals/covers wounds CODIT ability to limit decay from wounds Pruning wound One year later

63 CODIT COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF DECAY IN TREES Plugs up tissues to prevent the transport of diseases and decay in the stem. Plugging also prevents the transport of water and nutrients. Some trees species are better than others. If pruned correctly, new growth will form over the wound quickly.

64 Minnesota Citizen Pruner PRUNING IN MAPLE GROVE

65 HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

66 DATA COLLECTION

67 ENTERING HOURS

68 Minnesota Citizen Pruner QUESTIONS & FIELD TIME

69 RESOURCES Zins, Mark. Deborah Brown. Pruning Trees and Shrubs. University of Minnesota Extension Johnson, Gary. Benjamin Cooper. Tree Stem Protection. University of Minnesota. University of Florida. Cleaning the Canopy Hazard Trees: Danger Overhead. Tree Care Tips. USDA Forest Service. How to: Prune Trees. Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry. NA-FR Marx, Harold. Tree Decay: An Expanded Concept. USDA Forest Service. Agriculture Information Bulletin Number 419. April University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener. Pruning. Microsoft Office PowerPoint North, Eric. Pruning is Wounding Microsoft Office PowerPoint