HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist ReportArbor Care, Inc.
arboricultural consulting & plant health care
info@ArborCarelnc.net
DATE: March 25, 2019
TO: City of Arcadia Planning Division
240 W. Huntington Drive, P.O. Box 60021
Arcadia, CA 91007
FROM: Michael Crane
Arbor Care, Inc.
Project's Arborist of Record
SUBJECT: 228 W. Woodruff Avenue: Improper pruning of an off-site Protected
Oak Tree. Evaluation of potential damage.
A Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) located on the property to the west was recently
pruned to reduce the portion of the crown that encroaches over the property line.
The work consisted of two large heading cuts, with a third heading cut made to
reduce a large branch overhanging the roofline of the home where the tree is located.
1 evaluated the cuts and their locations; and in my professional opinion the tree was
not significantly injured, and although the affected portion of the crown will be
permanently changed it should reestablish a full live crown which will function safely
and effectively for screening and shade.
Heading cuts are considered improper in most situations because they are typically
very large, causing excessive wounding; and reduce a tree's natural form by
eliminating the structure of the headed branch. They are usually only reserved for
restoring or reviving decaying or overmature trees. The issue of wounding is not as
important on Coast Live Oak because this species is very good at compartmentalizing
the decay that may develop and advance on large cuts. Heading cuts result in
reactionary growth of many epicormic shoots, and must be managed depending on
the location of the cuts and degree of desired crown restoration. The heading cuts on
the subject tree were made on preferred locations where the branches will not likely
become overloaded and prone to failure; and crown restoration is not required. The
headed portion should be expected to fill in with dense foliage over the next few
years and can be maintained as a large hedge that will provide very good screening
and fair amounts of shade.
I have attached photos of the subject tree, which illustrate its current and previous
condition. Please email me with any questions. info@arborcareinc.net
Sincerely, "OL ct �
Michael Crane
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist WE-6643-B�„mx`
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #440
ABOVE: Looking southwest at the subject off-site oak taken in January 2016, prior
to the redevelopment project. BELOW: Looking west on March 25, 2019. The cuts
were made in the middle part of the crown and the branches will be able to support
all of the resulting sprout growth. The crown should be expected to fill-in on the
exposed side with foliage in a few years and it will resemble a large hedge.
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