Tree Biomechanics is the mechanical study of trees. Trees are structures and must obey physical laws just like buildings and bridges. A basic understanding of how physical laws apply to trees and arboricultural practice is critical to improving one’s arboricultural knowledge.

In this video Mick Tracy, Manager of Logical Tree Management talks about how the crew applied sound Biomechanic principals when removing this large Elm tree in Canterbury.

Read more about our upcoming Seminar…

A large Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus Macrophylla) needed to be pruned to make room between it and the properly adjacent.
This species is a large evergreen banyan tree of the Moraceae family that is a native of most of the eastern coast of Australia, from the Atherton Tableland (17° S) in the north to the Illawarra (34° S) in New South Wales, and Lord Howe Island. Its common name is derived from Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia. It is best known for its beautiful buttress roots, which are also known for damaging municipal footpaths.

As Ficus macrophylla is a strangler fig; seed germination usually takes place in the canopy of a host tree and the seedling lives as an epiphyte until its roots establish contact with the ground. It then enlarges and strangles its host, eventually becoming a freestanding tree by itself. Individuals may reach 60 m (200 ft) in height. Like all figs, it has an obligate mutualism with fig wasps; figs are only pollinated by fig wasps, and fig wasps can only reproduce in fig flowers.

Mick Tracy goes out on a limb to explain the special concerns regarding sap flow and the condition of the tree in preparation for pruning as well as showing some of the techniques employed. Many years of drought plus a recent year of rain has put some of Melbourne’s aging trees under some stress. He is seen secured by a rope slung high in the canopy and limb walking to the areas that need pruning,

Logical Tree Management (LTM) sets a new precedent in arboricultural care. Solutions are based on modern arboricultural principles and current Australian standards for tree pruning.

An established long term working relationship with many metropolitan council’s in regards to permit requirements for pruning and removals assists us in providing advice and service for any tree concern.

Logical Tree Management is filmed here at the Metropolitan Golf Club carrying out aerial inspections on some very old Southern Mahogany. Some of these trees have reached a height of up to 38 meters and ten years of below average rainfall has had an impact on their health. The LTM crew give a first hand account of structural issues such as cavities and trunk decay, limb shed and reactive growth. An ongoing management plan will provide solutions for public safety, excessive fairway lean-over and overall the future health of these trees.

Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’ Autumn Blaze Maple is a brilliant moderate to large sized tree that can adapt to a range of growing conditions. Superior orange-red autumn foliage. Fast growing and long lived narrow domed tree.

Origin

Cultivar selected by the late Glenn Jeffers of Jeffers Nursery in North Central Ohio (1980). A hybrid between A. rubrum and A. saccharinum.

Habit

Medium to large sized deciduous tree.  Dense, ascending branches forms a narrow-domed canopy.  Moderate to fast growth rate, mature size ranges between 15-20m high x 10-12m wide.

Description

Leaves simple, deeply palmately lobed (5-lobed), smaller but resembling the Silver Maple leaves that are rich and medium green in colour. Foliage turns brilliant orange-red in autumn.  Bark grey, smooth and becoming furrowed with age.

Tolerances

Vigorous, fast-growing tree that adapts to most soils, including clays, and climates. Can tolerate periodic waterlogging as well as extended dry periods.  Tree can tolerate low oxygen urban soils and frost. Good radiant heat tolerance. Not seriously affected by pest or disease.

Root space

Based on mature size, the tree would require approximately 113m2 area or 68m3 root volume (crown projection method).

Availability

Common; bare-root, container and advanced stock.

Uses & management

Urban landscapes, parks and streets. Long-lived, moderate to large sized tree with ornamental characteristics and good tolerances.  Easy to transplant. Prefers full sun position. Low litter problem; virtually seedless. The lateral limbs can try to out-compete the leader, so formative pruning to a central leader is important.

Featured Tree© Tree Logic Pty Ltd 2011
Ref:   van Gelderen, D. M., de Jong, P. C., & Otterdoom, H. J. (1994) Maples of the world. Florilegium.
Poplar Farms 2010 . The Society of Municipal Arborists is proud to present The 2004 Urban Tree of the Year Autumn Blaze Maple.
Available at: Poplar Farms

Docklands project sees the avenue of  Norfolk Island Pines finally being planted.

Early in March, Tree Logic was onsite at Harbour Esplanade with consultants Brown and Tompkinson, BKK Architects, Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Cut & Fill to witness a long and extensive project take shape. Steve Frank explains why the Norfolk Island Pine was the species of choice for this major Vic Urban Harbourside development.

Thanks to all those involved

docklands.com
Vicurban
BKK Architects
Brown and Tomkinson
Taylor Cullity Lethean Lanscape Architects
Cut and fill

Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak)
It is a deciduous tree with a wide spreading domed canopy and lush green foliage, it is also resistant to pest and disease, has drought tolerance and looks great in the street.

Origin
A lowland tree from the north-central and northeastern regions of North America. Habitats and vegetation associations can vary however, generally found on hydromorphic soils. Annual rainfall can also vary from 640mm to 1270mm. Temperatures can also vary from -34 to 41 degrees celsius.
Habit
Medium sized deciduous tree. Wide spreading, broad domed canopy. Moderate to fast growth rate, mature size ranges between 20-25m high x 15-25m wide.
Description
Leaves simple, large, dark-green glossy above, paler, generally glaucous below, with 5-7 shallow lobes on each margin. Foliage turns yellow-brown, sometime reddish in autumn. Bark a grey and furrowed with age. Acorns 2-3 (similar to English Oak) on long stalk; not known as a litter drop problem.
Tolerances
Adapts to most soils; not alkaline (pH >5.9). High waterlogging (can withstand periods of inundation) and low oxygen tolerance. Tree can withstand periods of drought. Not seriously affected by pest or disease.
Root space
Based on mature size, the tree would require approximately 315 to 490m2 area or 190 to 295m3 root volume (crown projection method).
Availability
Uncommon.
Uses & management
Urban landscapes, parks and streets. Long-lived, moderate sized tree with ornamental characteristics and good tolerances suggest that this oak should be more widely used in urban landscapes. Easy to transplant. Low litter problem.

Swamp White Oak Bark detail

Ref:

Spencer, R., (1997), Horticultural flora of south-eastern Australia, University of New South Wales Press LTD, Australia.
USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry (2010) ‘Swamp Wite Oak’ Available at: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/quercus/bicolor.htm
Urban Forestry Department. The Ohio State University. Shade Trees and Biodiversity in the Urban Environment. (2010) Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) Available at: http://shade-trees.tripod.com/families/selections/swamp_white_oak.html

Click to download Quercus bicolor Factsheet

This palm is primarily grown for its ornamental characteristics, mainly due to its attractive, silver-blue colored, fan-shaped leaves. This distinctive palm makes an extraordinary accent plant and can be used as a focal point. The arching flower panicles of the blue hesper palm are one of the most beautiful among all the palms. A small to moderate-sized palm that is easy to grow.
Good drought and cold tolerance.

Origin:

Mexico, Baja California

Habit:

Palm. Solitary stem and rounded crown of leaves.

Description:

Slow growing, small to medium sized palm; 12 to 15 metres in height with the crown being approximately 5 metres wide. Single, grey trunk holding a rounded crown of stiff, silvery-blue fan shaped leaves.
Arching panicles of flowers extend beyond the leaves; white flowers followed by dark-brown fruit.

Tolerances:

Grows in full sun and part-shade positions; tolerant of light frost. Desert palm with high tolerance of drought, but would benefit from occasional irrigation during extended dry periods. Also grows well in alkaline soils. Moderately tolerant of salty soils.

Availability:

Unknown. Presume rare. Propagated from seed.

Uses & management:

Urban landscapes, parks and streets. No major pest or disease concerns. Ornamental characteristics and tolerances suggest that this palm should be more widely used in urban landscapes. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; can be difficult to transplant. The petioles are covered in spines. This palm is best planted away from foot paths or walkways

Photo © Philip Greenwood

Bibliography:

Floridata 2010 Brahea armata. updated 18/1/04. Available at: http://www.floridata.com/ref/b/brah_arm.cfm [Accessed, 18/8/10).
Spencer, R. 2005. Horticultural flora of south-eastern Australia Volume 5: flowering plants. Monocotyledons. University of New South Wales Press.
Download the Blue Hesper Palm fact sheet

Tree Logic’s recent July seminars, held in Melbourne and Sydney, gave delegates the opportunity to hear world experts in the field of porous pavements technology share insights into design, functional applications and maintenance of various porous pavement systems.
Professor Bruce Ferguson, from the University of Georgia, has a background in landscape architecture and spoke about the benefits of porous pavements in our landscapes, the different types in use and the importance of incorporating this technology into urban landscapes.
Professor Simon Beecham hails from the University of South Australia and is Head of Civil Engineering and Director of the SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse (CWMR).  Simon spoke about the advantages of incorporating porous pavements into Water Sensitive Urban Design initiatives.  He believes that porous pavements provide more sustainable management of our water resources with an enormous potential to harvest rainwater off the abundance of hard surfaces in our cities.
Dr. Brian Shackel has researched and taught pavement engineering at the University of New South Wales for decades.  Brian continues to work with pavement organisations in the functional aspects of porous pavements.  Brian’s insights into maintenance and clogging issues have dispelled some of the main concerns over using this technology.
The use and acceptance of porous pavements is growing in our cities. The use of porous pavements as a ‘Green infrastructure’ can aid in the reintroducing of environmental systems into urban landscapes.
We recognise that the use of porous pavements for horticultural systems is only a small component of the applications for porous pavements but we are interested, however, in the continuing notion of reintroducing natural systems into urban landscapes.  This includes creating growing conditions conducive for plant growth, particularly in regard to increasing conflict with hard surfaces and dwindling space in urban areas.
As we move towards more sustainable cities, porous pavements provide a functional, cost-competitive construction element that can provide enormous benefits to people, flora, fauna and landscapes.  The use of porous pavements should be considered integral to contemporary urban design.

Why is English Elm tree of the season?

The English Elm provides a historical link with Europe and is an integral part of the aging canopy tree population of Melbourne. The loss of these aging specimens as they enter decline spirals will change the look of the older streets and parks of Melbourne. People love this species and will mourn their loss; and unless we proactively keep this tree at the forefront of people’s minds when making decisions in regards to appropriate species selection for the replacement plantings that will inevitably be required in the near future; the famous Elms of Melbourne may all but disappear.

What do I like about English Elms?

I love the stately nature of maturing specimens; the large broad green canopies that provide excellent summer shade; and the intricate silhouette of branches throughout late autumn and winter.
I love that shade of iridescent green exhibited by the new flushes of growth in spring and the yellow glow of the leaves at the peak of their autumn brilliance.

Case for a prize for English Elm

Victoria has some of the finest examples of English Elm in the world.
The high quality of English Elms in Victoria is predominantly due to the lack of Dutch elm disease, which has impacted the European populations.