The advantageous associations between fungi and tree roots are called mycorrhizae. Symbiosis is the name for a relationship of this kind that benefits both parties. Depending on whether the fungus dwells inside or outside the root, mycorrhizae can be either ectotrophic or endotrophic. Because they expand the region via which minerals (particularly phosphorus) may be absorbed, mycorrhizae are crucial for trees. Fungi profit from the plant tissues' absorption of sugars.
A branch's butt end will fall away from the cut if it is tip-tied. The process of tip-tying involves tying a line to the end of the to-be-cut limb's tip. The location of the rigging point has a significant impact on how far the branch will swing out. When tip-tying, climbers should take care to stay out of the area where the swinging limb is most likely to fall. Occasionally, the arborist will tie the branch with a tip so that a ground worker can remove it off the cut without damaging anything below the climber.
Lion tailing does not have a negative side effect like barber chair. Lion tailing, however, could result in water sprouts, burnt bark, or brittle branches. An epicormic water sprout is a shoot that emerges from dormant buds on the trunk or branches. Heat damage on young, thin bark that has been exposed to the sun's direct rays results in sunburn. When inner branches are overly clipped, the upper side of the branches may be exposed to the sun for the first time, leading to sunburn. Lion tailing can also result in branches developing poorly tapered and increasing their risk of failing due to structural instability.
The bend ratio of the rigging method with blocks is 3:1 if the diameter of the pulley is three times larger than the diameter of the rope. The bend ratio is the proportion of a branch's or sheave's diameter to the diameter of the rope that is wrapped around it. A rigging system with blocks must have a bend ratio of at least 4:1 since using a rope that is too big for a particular pulley will harm the rope and the blocks.
A thimble is used to stop a cable from wearing out too quickly when it is connected to anchoring gear. The thimble can also be used to improve the bend radius when using rope or to shield the cable's termination loop. A cable aid is a device that is used to wrap dead-end grips, open steel thimbles, and tighten lag screws. A lag-threaded cable anchor with an open eye is referred to as a ""lag hook,"" sometimes known as a ""J-hook."" A drill bit with an open spiral design is known as a ship auger. These kinds of bits are used by arborists when they need to drill holes for cable installation or bracing.
Only connectors that need to be opened infrequently should be connected via screw links. A carabiner is a rectangular metal ring with a spring-loaded gate that opens and closes. Using carabiners in rigging, both dynamic and static, is possible. A fitting with a U-shaped shape and a pin running through it is called a clevis. A connecting element with a threaded closure mechanism is called a screw link. It is used to swiftly join different climbing and rigging equipment or branches to rigging lines.
A heading cut involves trimming the branch to a somewhat vulnerable spot. Heading cuts, often referred to as heading back the branch, involve cutting the branch's shoot back to the buds, stubs, or nearest lateral branch that cannot become dominant. On elder trees, where preventing a significant wound on the trunk may be the goal, a heading cut may also be made. Reducing a branch or stem to a lateral branch that is large enough to be apically dominant is known as a reduction cut. Cutting a tree back to stubs, internodes, buds, or lateral branches that are not large enough to take apical dominance is known as topping.
