Part 1 Pruning addresses:
- Pruning objectives
- Pruning systems
- Pruning specifications
- Pruning cuts
- Pruning practices
- Palms and similar plants
- Pruning definitions
A300 Pruning standards recognize, but are not limited to, the following pruning objectives:
- Manage risk
- Manage health
- Develop structure, such as to: Improve branch and trunk architecture Promote or subordinate certain leaders, stems, or branches; Promote desirable branch spacing; Promote or discourage growth in a particular direction (directional pruning); Minimize future interference with traffic, lines of sight, or infrastructure, or other plants; Restore plants following damage; and/or, Rejuvenate shrubs.
- Provide clearance, such as to: Ensure safe and reliable utility services; Minimize current interference with traffic, lines of sight, infrastructure, or other plants; Raise crown(s) for movement of traffic or light penetration; Ensure lines-of-sight or desired views; Provide access to sites, buildings, or other structures; and/or, Comply with regulations.
- Manage size or shape
- Improve aesthetics
- Manage production of fruit, flowers, or other products
- Manage wildlife habitat
Advisory Notice:
Certain pruning practices are not acceptable and can injure trees:
- Topping: The reduction of a tree’s size using heading cuts that shorten limbs or branches back to a predetermined crown limit.
- Lion’s Tailing: The removal of an excessive number of inner, lateral branches from parent branches.
- Rooster-Tailing: The over-thinning of palms, usually by removing too many lower, live fronds.
Part 1 Pruning Resources:
- Download the “How to Write Pruning Specifications”