AUSINSPECTPest & Asset Maintenance

PRUNING

When done properly, pruning can improve a tree's healthy appearance, as well as increase the life expectancy of the tree. Proper pruning opens the canopy of the tree to permit more air movement and sunlight penetration.

Done improperly, pruning can decrease the tree’s life expectancy or even kill it. Because trees are living organisms, they can be profoundly affected by pruning practices. Tree care professionals adhere to accepted standard of practices when pruning trees.

The following information is designed to help you understand exactly what will be accomplished in a pruning operation.

Making Cuts

Branches should be removed with thinning cuts. A thinning cut either removes a branch at its point of origin or shortens it back to a lateral branch that is large enough to assume the terminal role.

Branches should not be removed with heading or topping cuts. A heading cut is when a currently growing or one-year-old shoot is cut back to a bud, or when a larger limb is cut back to a stub or a lateral that is not big enough to assume the terminal role. Heading should rarely be used in shade and ornamental tree pruning, since it forces the growth of multiple upright sprouts that are weakly attached to the parent stem. Drastic heading can kill the tree outright.

Branch Size

A minimum or maximum diameter size of branches to be removed should be specified in all pruning operations. This establishes how much pruning is to be done.

Pruning Objectives

Pruning objectives should be established prior to beginning any pruning operation. 

Hazard Reduction Pruning

Hazard reduction pruning is recommended when the primary objective is to reduce the danger to a specific target caused by visibly defined hazards in a tree. For example, hazard reduction pruning may be the primary objective if a tree had many dead limbs over a park bench.

Maintenance Pruning

Maintenance pruning is recommended when the primary objective is to maintain or improve tree health and structure, and includes hazard-reduction pruning. An example here might be to perform a maintenance pruning operation on a front yard tree.

Pruning Types

Hazard reduction pruning and maintenance pruning should consist of one or more of the pruning types noted below.

Crown cleaning consists of the selective removal of one or more of the following items: dead, dying, or diseased branches and weak branches.

Crown thinning is the selective removal of branches to increase light penetration, air movement, and reduce weight.

Crown raising consists of the removal of the lower branches of a tree to provide clearance.

Crown reduction, also called crown shaping, decreases the height and/or spread of a tree. Consideration should be given to the ability of a species to sustain this type of pruning.

Vista pruning is selective thinning of framework limbs or specific areas of the crown to allow a view of an object from a predetermined point.

Crown restoration pruning should improve the structure, form and appearance of trees which have been severely headed, vandalized, or storm damaged.

When you contract a company to prune trees, the company should ensure the following.

Proper cuts will be made.

Spikes won’t be used to climb. Although spikes can greatly speed the climber’s ascent into the tree, they cause injury & irreparable damage to the living tree and should only be used in emergency situations

Not more than one-fourth, or 25 percent, of the foliage of the canopy or individual limbs should be removed in any one season.

When pruning is completed, at least half the foliage should remain evenly distributed in the lower two-thirds of the canopy

Stephen Koelewyn - NSW Builders Licence 45109c   -   Building Consultant Licence BC213  -   Pest Control Licence 2025

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Last modified: Monday, 20 October 2008

AUSINSPECT is well equipped to carry out specialised building works, termite treatments, termite nest location, termite nest eradication, effective repairs to buildings and property. We own our own machinery and truck for efficient, cost effective undertaking of works, our specialty is the repair of termite damaged and decayed structures.