Pruning

Pruning is the first preference for improving the structure of trees. However, pruning also involves benefits and contributions. When we’re cutting off branches we’re cutting of part of the reason why we want the tree there in the first place. Cabling a branch that’s over-extended or that has a crack with decay at the attachment can be preferable to removing too much of that branch. On older trees in particular have a low tolerance for loss of living material. They don’t like shocks of any kind to their system.

The primary arboricultural service is pruning. Pruning is removing parts that are not good for the tree, thereby favoring parts that are good for the tree and its future growth. Pruning older trees often involves shortening outer branches to trigger a response of more growth on the interior of the tree. This shortens the path that the tree has to transmit water and nutrients, thereby making it more sustainable.

We have studied practices pruning and other treatments used on trees around the world from the United Kingdom to the Orient. Using what we have learned from them and firsthand experience, we developed and published different specifications for pruning trees for different objectives.