I had some professional pruning done on the two oak trees (Quercus rubra) in the woodland garden. I wrote about these two trees last fall when a neighbor had another enormous oak tree removed down the street. My trees are much younger but needed to be limbed up in order to let more light into my woodland garden. The understory trees have also been getting larger and were bumping heads with the oak trees.
This is a before picture of the smaller oak in the woodland garden which also overhangs the Lower Garden
You can see how the lower branches were removed to give the stewartia in the Lower Garden more room to grow.
A view from the Terrace
Close up of the pruned limbs.
The before picture of the larger oak tree.
The after picture. You can see the Heptacodium tree beyond the shed which now has more light.
A view from the woodland garden. Dan Tremblay, the aborist did a beautiful job creating space in the oak's canopy for the Katsura tree in the woodland garden and the Heptacodium on the Lower Garden level.
Another view from the house of the pruned oak tree limb.
Pruning these trees was very complicated for my aborist, Dan Tremblay of Broad Oak Tree and Shrub Care. My property is quite small, about a third of an acre, and is on a steep hill. Getting the branches safely to the ground and off the property without disturbing the woodland garden was the biggest challenge. I had to get permission from my neighbor to get the debris out of the garden. Fortunately, she was very cooperative and Dan and his crew left both of properties in perfect condition. I have been planning to have this work done for several years. Now I can focus my efforts on developing the woodland garden.
I remember that post last fall. I love the silhouette of a properly pruned tree. I was just at a clients house a week or two ago where her husband had topped all the trees on the property with a chain saw.
ReplyDeleteKaveh,
ReplyDeleteI agree, there is equal amounts of art and science in pruning a tree properly. I am very fortunate to have an arborist like Dan Tremblay to accomplish the task.
Sort of like sculpture. I can imagine having this completed also has an emotional impact that's about to set you into action on new projects in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI think it is like a sculpture, James. You are absolutely right. Now I can really work on the understory.
DeleteMichael, I've noticed often how trees grow together, how one will fill the other's gaps, or lean to get some vantage. It's necessary sometimes for the gardener to intervene. You and your arborist have done so excellently.
ReplyDeleteFaisal,
DeleteI hope in a couple of years you would never notice these trees were pruned and everything has a chance to meld together beautifully on their own.
I think pruning as you are doing, is easily as fulfilling as design. And yes, hiring an arobrist really does free up time and one's creative spark, to get on with other tasks on the ground!
ReplyDeleteDan and I spent quite a lot of time determining exactly which limbs should go to give the light and space required but to also look natural in the end. As I mentioned to James, I am ready to get working on the plants below. Thanks for commenting, Dave.
DeleteA good tree surgeon is worth their weight in gold, Michael. You obviously have found yourself a good one. So many trees at the Priory have been butchered over the years that I'm really pleased to have found someone who actually knows what they're doing. D
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more. It seems like a crime to have trees mismanaged on a property like the Priory. I am very fortunate to have Dan to rely on.
DeleteThat oak looks professionally pruned, excellent job. Kudos sir.
ReplyDelete-Oscar Valencia
You are correct, Oscar. Dan Tremblay and his crew did a terrific job. Thanks for commenting. Working in Queens, you are familiar with the challenges of tree work in tight places.
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