Does anyone know of any research that has been conducted into the efficiency of different tree genra to tolerate pruning i.e compartmentalistaion rates etc?

Reply to post by Judith Latham, on February 06, 2002 at 09:12:58:

I know of no formal research in this area. Since ability to compartmentalize depends on vigor, I don't know how it could be done, or why it would be done.
Anecdotal results in NC puts Liriodendron as a weak genus and Acer as a strong one.
You might connect with local arborists and get some dissecting done on removal jobs.
Observing callus formation over pruning wounds might be an indicator of interior sealing...?

Reply to post by Guy Meilleur, on February 06, 2002 at 09:12:58:

I would think that it would have to go to the speicies level for any acuracy. Look at the differance in comparmentalization between the different maples.

Reply to post by JPS, on February 07, 2002 at 07:57:50:


Compartmentalization is an evolved response to wounding that is biologically brilliant given the limited resources of a tree. I'm troubled by the choice of words "pruning tolerant" as if we might then be able to prune one species more than another.

My position is that pruning is an over-inflated and over-cliched remedy that flows more from the fact that the only tool we really have is a saw. Our other plant-health-care techniques are really unconfirmed and somewhat distant from our understanding. (Please spare me the salesman's hype of micro-injection and the like.)

Shigo discusses strong and weak compartmentalizers and I would certainly look to him for more information, but there are subtlities to why those trees have different responses. If we think with our saws, our answers will be saw pre-disposed. It's not necessarily a vicious circle, but it's certainly a sawdusty one.


Old Bob W.

Reply to post by Wulkowicz, on February 11, 2002 at 10:50:00:

Here is a link to Alex Shigo's observations of tree response to canker fungi that I think relates to this discussion.

Reply to post by Mark Goodwin, on February 13, 2002 at 02:22:51:

Great link from Mark. Doesn't have so much to do with pruning tolerance as to the point I've been trying to make on the Insects and Disease thread:

"The arborist who understands this will treat all trees, including those with canker rots (armillaria etc.) and other injuries, in ways that will increase health and energy reserves and decrease stress. Easy to say. Not so easy to do. Too often the decision is made to remove the tree." Dr. Alex Shigo

I think that says it quite well.