CARDINAL SINS OF PRUNING Standards for tree pruning are laid out in ANSI standards, but unfortunately, these aren’t always followed by tree care professionals. This oen means cuts are made that can negatively im- pact the health of the tree or fail to align with the tree’s objective. Here are the top pruning mistakes to avoid: TOPPING This is a pruning practice that aims to decrease the height of a tree. Topping involves cutting off the upper portion of a tree’s main branches or central lead- er. This practice is detrimental because it removes the tree’s natural crown, disrupts its structure, and encourages weak and rapid regrowth. Topping is usually done because people are worried that a tree is too tall. This is oen the result of picking the wrong tree for a space. It can also be required in situations where, perhaps, a tree is encroaching on power lines or other structures.
Chainsaws, hand saws, loppers, pruning shears, and pole saws are common tools used when pruning.
grow into a low limb that eventually gets in the way.” Making cuts that promote the health of the tree and keep its objective in mind takes time and skill. While it’s not always possible to start early with pruning, prop- er cuts lead to better results and a tree that can thrive for many years.
When issues arise, such as the pres- ence of large, low branches limiting ac- cessibility to walkways or roads, prop- er pruning practices will maintain the tree’s natural structure, reduce future hazards, and limit the amount of stress to the tree. STAY GOAL-ORIENTED When making cuts, arborists first as- sess how the tree might continue to grow in the future. One of the reasons urban trees grow differently than trees in a forest is due to the excess light around the radius of the tree. This oen leads to two or more dominant stems within a tree, as well as large, low branches. Young, urban trees should be pruned long before they get to the point where drastic cuts are needed, says Edward Gilman, PhD, author of “ An Illustrated Guide to Pruning ,” widely regarded as the tree care industry’s most compre- hensive pruning guide. “If you prune low branches and co-dom- inant stems earlier,” Gilman says, “it pushes more growth up into the per- manent canopy instead of letting it
Topping is the practice of reducing the size of a tree by removing its canopy, which can have negative impacts on the tree's food production, risk of decay, and limb failure.
30 | ArborTIMES Winter 2024
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