Proper Pruning: Respects Tree Beauty, Respects Tree Defense Systems, Respects Tree Dignity.

Improper Pruning: Destroys Tree Beauty, Destroys Tree Defense Systems, Destroys Tree Dignity.

Pruning is definitely the most common tree maintenance procedure. Forest trees grow very well with little or no pruning, but in most landscape situations, tree pruning is often desirable and necessary to remove dead branches, maintain safety, improve tree structure, and to enhance vigor. Executed properly, pruning cuts are made with an understanding of how the tree will respond to the cut. Improper pruning can cause severe damage, which will adversely affect the tree throughout its life.

Removing foliage from a tree has distinctly different effects on its growth. Removing leaves unquestionably reduces photosynthesis and may reduce overall growth. This can cause a dwarf effect. The growth that does not occur takes place on fewer shoots, so the shoots tend to grow longer than they would have without pruning. This is commonly called shoot invigoration. These principles should be kept in mind when considering pruning trees and other woody plants.

The most common reasons for pruning are to remove dead branches, to remove crowding of crossing limbs, to eliminate hazards, or to slow the growth by removing foliage. Trees may also be trimmed to reduce wind resistance or to increase light penetration. In the majority of cases, tree trimming is of a corrective nature.

Deadwooding is the removal of the weak, dead and dying branches from a tree to eliminate hazards. Crown cleaning- removes the diseased, dead and weakly attached low-vigor branches and water sprouts from the tree crown.

Thinning includes crown cleaning as well as removing selective branches which can increase light penetration and air movement through the crown.

Crown Reduction is commonly used to reduce the size of the tree. This can be accomplished by cutting limbs back to the laterals that are at least 1/3 of the size of the parent limb.

Topping or Heading Back usually involves the cutting of limbs back to a stud, bud, or a lateral branch not large enough to assume the terminal role.

Crown raising or Elevating removes the lower branches of a tree to create a clearance for pedestrians, walkways, buildings, and vehicles and vistas.