Question about trees

R

RedEdge77

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Jul 13, 2005
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I don't know if this is the right place but it sure seems like it. Well anyways i decided that i would like to try my hand at building a shelter. The only problem is that the only branches to use are on the trees. Now my question is this. If I cut a few branches off the trees, will the trees continue to live?
 
Yes, they will. If living trees are the only source of wood to use, I would say spread out your cutting to other trees in different areas. If there are evergreens around, some dead branches might be found on them in the understory if that type of tree is shade intollereant. Also make sure your going to use what you cut, and don't waste it. And again spread out your cutting to other trees to lessen your impact. Also look for trees which are competing for light and food. By carefully selecting the limbs you cut can help the trees in the long run as well.
 
Thanks for te response. Yeah i was planning on only cutting a few branches from each tree. :thumbup:
 
If you cut living branches try and make as clean a cut as you can and make sure you don,t rip bark down to the main trunk . A little pruning is good for a tree and stimulates new growth .
 
I checked a professional tree pruning site and one bit of advice that sounded worth passing on was to not make a cut flush with the trunk or branch as this can prevent the tree from healing the pruning wound.
 
Big no no cutting trees in NY State Forests.
And no permanent structures.

Just lookin out for you RE77 :D
 
As a professional white trash gardner I reccomend cutting limbs off trees starting at the bottom and and trying to stay as symetrical as possible. Make the cut just outside the bark coller, the ridge between the limb and trunk. Just think of trimming your own trees. You don't want them to look shitty or to die. :thumbup:
 
Yeah, lean-2s are a good starting point. Especially if there isn't a lot of debris on the forest floor. Finding a deadfall or blow down is usually what I try and do. That way the work I have to do to put up a shelter is minimized. I always carry a USGI poncho and now I got a cool German mil tarp. Having something to cover the frame with, makes a long job, real short and waterproof.:D
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

To ebbtide, the trees are in my backyard and i like to live dangerously:D

Since we're talking about the shelter, what would be the best way to remove the weeds where the bottom of the shelter is? Just a simple weed-bo-gone product?
 
An alternative is to cruise the neighborhood and pick up limbs that are piled curbside for pickup on lawn trash days. Or visit a new construction site and pick through the bulldozed piles. Keeping the grass down and ground moisture out of the inside can be as simple as putting down a sheet of cheap plastic. If it is lawn, weedeat it close to the ground before building.
 
RedEdge77 said:
Thanks for the replies everyone.

To ebbtide, the trees are in my backyard and i like to live dangerously:D
Click to expand...


In that case, don't forget your map, compass, 16 gallons of water and every knife you own. ;) :D :D

Have fun, take photos :D
 
yes it will live as long as it is a clean cut co use a good saw
 
Trees are in general not that fragile that limbs being removed are instant death. Take a walk in the woods and see how many limbs you can see ripped off and the tree is still living. This however is kind of pointless to do on your own trees. I would use a pruning saw, but in general would not cut trees in my backyard for that purpose. Generally if you are in the woods you use debris and deadfall rather than cut down wood for a shelter. Cutting wood is a last resort because it takes much more time/effort and it also is *very* heavy compared to dry and seasoned wood. On a related note, some people are really odd when it comes to trash, don't just assume that because someone has a tree/branches out for removal you can just take it. As idiotic as it sounds some people will freak out if you just went off with it.

-Cliff
 
Thanks all. I'll take some pics when i'm done with this. I'm still not too sure on how i wanna go about it.:o
 
joedirt said:
As a professional white trash gardner I reccomend cutting limbs off trees starting at the bottom and and trying to stay as symetrical as possible. Make the cut just outside the bark coller, the ridge between the limb and trunk. Just think of trimming your own trees. You don't want them to look shitty or to die. :thumbup:
Click to expand...


Good advice. Also cut at at slight angle and in a way that water would not stay standing on where you cut, as on the structure of some trees limbs are pointing up. The point here is to prevent pathogens from growing in the one drop of water that is present for an extended period of time.

Also, avoid pruning at the edge of a stand where there is extended periods of sun. That limb you cut is also shade for the stem which can get sun scorch and stress the tree if exposed all of sudden.
 
If you're trying to pravtice survival skills, I dont think you should go cutting down branches, unless you plan on having whatever tools you're using with you if you're ever in a real situation. The weeding is also unnecesary, a few weeds would be the least of your concerns if you were trying to survive in the wild. I'd recomend going to somewhere else after you've done this to have a more realistic survival trip.

I wouldnt recomend using any sort of weed killing chemicals, if you want them gone that badly, do it by hand. The chemicals travel quite a bit and can end up in nearby ponds and streams, or your well water depending on where you live.
 
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