I made it up to the Shigo tree autopsy lab in Portsmouth, N.H. and returned with a greater understanding of how internal defects start and ultimately cause stem and limb failure. The workshop was outside and we cut and studied medium to large trunk sections Shigo selected from Jeff Ott's (the workshop organizer)"tree morgue." Especially helpful was seeing the pattern of decay and crack spread in a range of species, the most likely of those to fail, and how quickly. Having studied defects from the inside out, I can now more readily identify their external indications and know what effect they're likely to have on a given species.
We spent a lot of time on forensics, reading the rings to date a wound and learning various observations that can yield valuable information in court cases. I also learned a lot about diagnosing and remedying problems with young, transplanted nursery trees. The workshop covered a great deal of material in a short amount of time, but I've since been surprised at how much info I was unable to record in notes "sunk in."
Shigo has gotten off the road and will now be conducting workshops in conjunction with Jeff Ott, Northeast Shade Tree, in Portsmouth, on the coast a throwball toss from the Maine border. They're held at an Elk's Lodge on the water. About 25 people from around the country and Canada attended. Any arborist conducting hazard tree evaluations or handling court cases would especially benefit from the autopsy lab.
