Proper tree pruning is as much an art as it is a science. Did you know that the Tree Care Industry has standard terminology and procedures that professionals use as a guide for proper and up to date pruning practices (ANSI standards and BMP's)? All pruning should be done with a specific purpose in mind. This can be a wide range of reasons from dead wood removal to providing clearance around a structure, or improving appearance. Too often we see trees pruned improperly or simply for the sake of pruning, usually doing more harm than good.

 

Poor Pruning Practices
Below are the 3 most important practices NOT to do to your trees when it comes to pruning.

1. Use of climbing spikes - Climbing spikes are strictly prohibited during the pruning process. Spikes should be used only during tree removal. Using spikes to prune is a sure sign of unprofessionalism and indicates someone who is unskilled or doesn’t know their trade. If a tree is being pruned, it should be done either from an aerial lift or by a climber utilizing only rope and saddle techniques. Climbing spikes injure trees and provide pathways for entry of insects and diseases. A skilled arborist can maneuver through the tree using climbing techniques that don’t harm the tree.

2. Topping - This is one of the worst things that can be done to a tree, especially mature or past-mature trees. Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of branches to form a stub or cutting back to lateral branches that aren’t large enough to assume a terminal role. Although we commonly see this done in the Metro Atlanta area it is NOT an accepted practice among professional arborists. Most commonly it is done with the objective of reducing the size of a tree when people feel that the trees have become a hazard due to size or height. In fact it is NOT a viable option and in the long term makes a tree more hazardous. Steer clear of any company that advertises Topping. Read this pamphlet for a full explanation of Why Topping Hurts Trees http://www.treesaregood.org/treecare/topping.aspx

3. Overthinning or “Lion’s-tailing” - Overthinning occurs when the majority (or all) of the branches are removed from the lower 2/3 of a branch or stem, giving the appearance of a lion’s tail. This transfers weight to the end of branches and contributes to sunburned bark tissue, watersprouts, cracks in branches, reduced branch taper, increased loading on branch unions, and weakens branch structure.  Lions tailing changes the dynamics of a limb and can result in increased branch breakage. As with topping and the use of climbing spikes, lions tailing is a sign of a poorly trained Arborist.


Types of Pruning
Geer Tree can provide many different types of pruning completed in accordance with ANSI standards. Every situation is unique and may require a combination of pruning procedures. One of Geer Tree’s Arborists can help you decide what type of pruning is best suited to your situation.

1. Crown Cleaning - Performed to remove dead, diseased, or dying branches. These branches may be a hazard, detrimental to tree health, or just plain unsightly. 

2. Crown Raising - removing limbs to provide vertical clearance for a number of reasons: vehicles, pedestrians, security, light infiltration, line of sight improvement, or aesthetic. Many times this is combined with roofline and building clearance to keep trees from encroaching on physical structures.

3. Crown Thinning - pruning to reduce the density of live branches.  Proper thinning retains crown shape and should provide an even distribtion of foliage throughout the tree.   

4. Crown Reduction - reduction is the selective removal of branches and stemps to decrease the height and/or spread of a tree or shrub.  Crown reduction should be accomplished with reduction cuts, not heading cuts (see topping above).  Not all tree and shrub species can be reduced.

5. Crown Restoration - selective removal of branches, sprouts, and stubs from trees that have been topped, severely headed, vandalized, lion's tailed, broken in a storm, or otherwise damaged.  The goal of restoration is to improve a tree or shrub's structure, form, or appearance. 

6. Vista Pruning - Pruning to enahance a specific view without jeapordizing the health of the tree.  This pruning can include involve multiple pruning techniques including thinning, reducing, and raising.  Vista pruning takes a keen eye and can be difficult to perform properly, and can showcase a tree crew's pruning expertise.
 

7. Young Tree Pruning - used on young and medium-aged trees to  engineer a sustainable trunk and branch arrangement.  It involves the removal of live branches and stems to influence the orientation, spacing, growth rate, strength of attachment, and ultimate size of branches and stems.  Trees that have been pruned to promote good structure will likely remain serviceable in the landscape for more years than trees that have not been structurally pruned.

It is important to be familiar with the pruning terminology and practices to avoid paying for services that may do more harm than good for your trees or cause you to spend money for something you shouldn't.  It isn't uncommon to see someone pay to have a tree topped, then have to pay to have the tree removed several years later as a result of the topping.  See the links section of our website for some web sites with great information about pruning.

When you hire GEER TREE  you don't have to worry about getting the right services.  We pride ourselves on being experts in the field of pruning and delivering the services you need.