How Not to Prune Your Trees 1
Let s change gears and talk about trees. You re not going to be working with big trees, so let s talk about young and small trees. 2
During digging, moving process, will take lots of root damage. This decreases the plant s ability to take up water. 3
Used to recommend balancing root loss by removing ½ of branches (less transpiration). Not recommended! Leaves are needed to make carbohydrates for new root growth. 4
Train the tree. Remove crossing, competing branches, and those growing where they will someday be a problem. Don t want > 1 branch at a node creates weak crotches. Show branch collar. 5
Select for wide crotches, not narrow. Better able to withstand wind, ice/snow, fruit load. 6
Pruning cuts for large limbs: protect the branch collar to maintain compartmentalization. 7
Triple cut method for removing large limbs. Make an undercut approximately 6 inches out from trunk; go up about 1/4 to 1/3 of way. Make second cut from top, about 2 to 3 inches beyond undercut. This removes wait of limb. Remove stub by cutting from top of limb, but don t cut into branch collar.
Triple cutting prevents damage to trunk from bark stripping. 9
Here is a Bradford Pear that never received thinning at planting. 10
Self-destructed in windstorm, approx. 35 years after planting. 11
Remove co-dominant or double stems while young. Remove one of the leaders. Use double-cut method. 12
Double-trunk tree splitting. This tree cannot be saved now, should have been taken care of 5 to 10 years ago. 13
Rubbing branches: disease, insects, decay. Prevent by pruning when young. Remove entire offending branch now. 14
Weeping cherry and other sad plants appear to be more difficult to prune than others. Generally, don t need pruning! 15
Some people will make a Moe (3 Stooges) cut, so that grass or shrubs can grow under tree. This is ugly and labor intensive. It would be better to remove the grass/shrubs and mulch it, and allow plant to grow to ground. 16
Sometimes weeping cherry will produce upright growth. Look to see where growth is coming from! If it s below the graft, than it should be removed. Otherwise, leave it alone; it will eventually weep over on its own. 17
Types of pruning needed for crabapples and other small ornamental trees. 18
Let s talk about big trees (shade trees). People don t realize there s a right way and a wrong way to prune. 19
Big trees are for professionals. They know how to climb and use tools safely 20
Avoid hiring people traveling through neighborhoods looking for work; no company name on truck; no lift trucks, etc. Probably not qualified. 21
Some professionals are not too professional. Check for city license! 22
All tree workers inside city limits of Evansville must have tree trimmers license. Tree workers need to attend a class taught by city arborist and me, and prove they have valid liability and workman s comp insurance. Outside of Evansville, license isn t legally needed...but why hire someone without it? 23
This is the wrong way. Pruning is the selective removal of undesirable branches. Topping is the indiscriminant removal of most major limbs and trunks. Why does it happen so much in southern Indiana? Blame it on the elves. 24
Effects of topping: 1. Branch stubs die from shock (sunscald) 2. Watersprouts, suckers 25
Sucker growth returning. Gets right back into power lines, etc., needs to be retopped. 26
3. Trees more susceptible to decay 27
The wounds caused by topping will never close over. Decay begins at cut end, works its way into heart of tree. Suckers grow on and around this decayed wood, making them very unstable. 28
3. Trees more susceptible to decay 4. Life reduced by 1/3 to ½ 5. Natural form destroyed. 6. Real estate value based on International Society of Arboriculture 29
Tree Landscape Value based on species, size, location and condition. Topping affects condition. 30
It s Ugly! 31
Ugly Trees! 32
Even professional companies are learning to shun topping. 33
Even getting support from other sources... 34
End is near...speaking of which, what should we do at end of pruning job? 35
Should you treat pruning cuts with wound dressings? Dr. Alex Shigo did 13 year study on wound dressings. Wounded hundreds of trees, treated them with many different products. 36
Wound dressings don t prevent decay, insect attack. Best treatment was to leave trees alone. 37
Wound dressings are for cosmetics only 38
What part of no topping do you have a problem understanding? 39
My card 40