Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. Although forest trees grow quite well
with only nature's pruning, landscape trees require a higher level of care to maintain
their safety and aesthetics. Pruning should be done with an understanding of how the tree
responds to each cut. Improper pruning can cause damage that will last for the life of the
tree, or worse, shorten the tree's life.
Reasons for Pruning
Since each cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree, no branch should be
removed without a reason. Common reasons for pruning are to remove dead branches, to remove
crowded or rubbing limbs, and to eliminate hazards. Trees may also be pruned to increase
light and air penetration to the inside of the tree's crown or to the landscape below.
In most cases, mature trees are pruned as a corrective or preventative measure. Routine
thinning does not necessarily improve the health of a tree. Trees produce a dense crown of
leaves to manufacture the sugar used as energy for growth and development. Removal of
foliage through pruning can reduce growth and stored energy reserves. Heavy pruning can be a
significant health stress for the tree. Yet if people and trees are to coexist in an urban
or suburban environment, then we sometimes have to modify the trees. City environments do
not mimic natural forest conditions. Safety is a major concern. Also, we want trees to
complement other landscape plantings and lawns. Proper pruning, with an understanding of
tree biology, can maintain good tree health and structure while enhancing the aesthetic and
economic values of our landscapes.
When to Prune
Most routine
pruning to remove weak, diseased, or dead limbs
can be accomplished at any time during the year with little effect on the tree. As a rule,
growth is maximized and wound closure is fastest if pruning takes place before the spring
growth flush. Some trees, such as maples and birches, tend to "bleed" if pruned
early in the spring. This may be unsightly, but is of little consequence to the tree. A few
tree diseases, such as oak wilt, can be spread when pruning wounds allow spores access into
the tree. Susceptible trees should not be pruned during active transmission periods. Heavy
pruning just after the spring growth flush should be avoided. This is when trees have just
expended a great deal of energy to produce foliage and early shoot growth. Removal of a
large percentage of foliage at this time can stress the tree.
Making Proper Pruning Cuts
Pruning cuts should be made just outside the branch collar. The branch collar contains trunk
or parent branch tissue and should not be damaged or removed. If trunk collar has grown out
on a dead limb to be removed, make the cut just beyond the collar. Do not cut the collar. If
a large limb is to be removed, its weight should first be reduced. This is done by making an
undercut about 12-18 inches from the limb's point of attachment. A second cut is made
from the top, directly above or a few inches further out on the limb. This removes the limb
leaving the 12-18 inch stub. The stub is removed by cutting back to the branch collar. This
technique reduces the possibility of tearing the bark.
Pruning Techniques
Specific types of pruning may be necessary to maintain a mature tree in a healthy, safe, and
attractive condition.
Cleaning:
The removal of dead, dying, diseased, crowded, weakly attached, and low-vigor branches from
the crown of a tree.
Thinning:
The selective
removal of branches to increase light penetration
and air movement through the crown. Thinning opens the foliage of a tree, reduces weight on
heavy limbs, and helps retain the tree's natural shape.
Raising:
Removes the lower branches from a tree in order to provide clearance for buildings, vehicles,
pedestrians, and vistas.
Reduction:
Reduces the size of a tree, often for clearance for utility lines. Reducing the height or
spread of a tree is best accomplished by pruning back the leaders and branch terminals to
lateral branches that are large enough to assume the terminal roles (at least 1/3 the
diameter of the cut stem). Compared to topping, this helps maintain the form and structural
integrity of the tree.
How Much Should Be Pruned?
The amount of live tissue that should be removed depends on the tree size, species, and age,
as well as the pruning objectives. Younger trees will tolerate the removal of a higher
percentage of living tissue than mature trees. An important principle to remember is that a
tree can recover from several small pruning wounds faster than from one large wound. A
common mistake is to remove too much inner foliage and small branches. It is important to
maintain an even distribution of foliage along large limbs and in the lower portion of the
crown. Over-thinning reduces the tree's sugar production capacity and can create
tip-heavy limbs that are prone to failure. Mature trees should require little routine
pruning. A widely accepted rule of thumb is never to remove more than 1/4 of a tree's
leaf bearing crown. In a mature tree, pruning even that much could have negative effects.
Removing even a single, large-diameter limb can create a wound that the tree may not be able
to close. The older and larger a tree becomes, the less energy it has in reserve to close
wounds and defend against decay or insect attack. The pruning of large mature trees is
usually limited to the removal of dead or potentially hazardous limbs.
Wound Dressings
Wound dressings were once thought to accelerate wound closure, protect against insects and
diseases, and reduce decay. However, research has shown that dressings do not reduce decay
or speed closure and rarely prevent insect or disease infestations. Most experts recommend
that wound dressings not be used. If a dressing must be used for cosmetic purposes, then
only a thin coating of a non-toxic material should be applied.