The minimum specifications are:
Grass cutting in recreational areas - the minimum specifications are
- You must mow or strim recreational paths to ensure between 1m and 3m width of mown or strimmed grass is maintained throughout the growing season.
- You must undertake at least three cuts each season.
Manual brashing
Brashing increases light levels along routes, paths and path edges and opens up views.
The minimum specifications are:
- You must use purpose-made hand or mechanical pruning saws.
- Cuts must be flush with the stem.
- You can undertake pruning up to 1.5 m high
High pruning
High pruning increases light levels along path edges and opens up views.
The minimum specifications are:
- If you intend to undertake high pruning your vegetation must have been previously brashed or the lower branches are minimal.
- You must use purpose-made hand or mechanical pruning saws.
- Cuts must be flush with stem
- You can undertake pruning up to 6 m high.
- If you are pruning larger branches remove most of the weight of the branch to ease the later cuts. This is achieved 6-12 inches away from the stem, by a first undercut to prevent splitting followed by a second top cut which severs the branch.
- Before making the final cut identify the 'branch bark ridge'. This is an external feature which is readily visible at the trunk/bark junction. The final cut must not disturb this ridge or the internal anatomical features associated with it.
High pruning of trees
High pruning of trees is the selective reduction and removal of branches to create some vertical lift of the tree canopy, allowing space under the tree to increase light levels on the path or route and open up views.
The minimum specifications are:
- High pruning of trees must be carried out using purpose-made hand or mechanical pruning saws.
- To ensure no adverse effects on individual tree increment, at least one-third of the total height of the tree must be crown.
- High pruning must be carried out to achieve a minimum of 4 m and up to 10 m clear stem at the time of the first pruning operation.
- The first stage of high pruning larger branches must remove most of the weight of the branch to ease the later cuts. This is achieved 6-12 inches away from the stem, by a first undercut to prevent splitting followed by a second top cut which severs the branch.
- Before making the final cut identify the 'branch bark ridge'. This is an external feature which is readily visible at the trunk/bark junction. The final cut must not disturb this ridge or the internal anatomical features associated with it.