Pruning and Trimming Trees
The objective of trimming is to produce strong, healthy, attractive trees. By understanding how, when and why to trim, and by following a few simple principles, this objective can be achieved.
The main reasons for trimming ornamental and shade trees include safety, health, and aesthetics. In addition, trimming can be used stimulate fruit production and increase the value of timber.
Trimming for health involves removing diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to increase airflow and reduce some pest problems, and removing crossing and rubbing branches. Trimming can best be used to encourage trees to develop a strong structure and reduce the likelihood of damage during severe weather. Removing broken or damaged limbs encourage wound closure.
Trimming for aesthetics involves enhancing the natural form and character of trees or stimulating flower production.
What is Tree Topping?
Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. Yet, despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars explaining its harmful effects, topping remains a common practice.
Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal role. Other names for topping include “heading,” “tipping,” “hat-racking,” and “rounding over.”
The most common reason given for topping is to reduce the size of a tree. Homeowners often feel that their trees have become too large for their property. People fear that tall trees may pose a hazard. Topping, however, is not a viable method of height reduction and certainly does not reduce the hazard. In fact, topping will make a tree more hazardous in the long term.
Why Prune a Tree?
A tree may need pruning for a variety of reasons:
- To remove diseased or storm-damaged branches
- To thin the crown to permit new growth and better air circulation
- To reduce the height of a tree
- To remove obstructing lower branches
- To shape a tree for design purposes