There are a lot of reasons people prune trees.  We prune to clear trees from structures, the yard, or other plants.  We prune to “train” them for long-term structural stability.  We prune for aesthetics, we prune for “vistas” or views.  We prune for safety.

            Regardless of the reason we are pruning a tree, there are certain standards that are universal.  The first is the ANSI A300 Standards.  These provide a common “language” for pruning.  These standards discuss what constitutes a proper pruning cut, how much foliage should be removed in any one pruning cycle, and provide a way to compare “apples to apples” when looking at different bids.

            The second set of standards is the ANSI Z-133.1.  These standards specify how the pruning is done, in terms of personal protective gear, allowable practices, and work procedures.  This is the set of standards that is most often violated in our industry.  If you see a tree crew without hard-hats, eye protection, ear protection or chainsaw protection, realize you are seeing an accident waiting to happen!

            It’s often said that good tree pruning is as much art as science, and it’s true.  A well-trimmed tree should be a lot like a good hair cut.  It should look neat and tidy, but not “just done”.  We also like to joke that, “Not everyone knows what a good trim job looks like, but everyone knows what a good clean-up looks like”.

            It’s our goal to leave every yard at least as nice as we found it, if not better.

            Pruning young trees is a particular art.  To do it properly, one must know what that species of tree can eventually become.  One should not prune a redbud the same as one would prune a white oak.  The redbud may grow to 20 feet, and the white oak to 80 feet.  Certainly the spacing of limbs on the two would not be the same.  One should not prune them the same, then.

            The pruning done on a tree in the first ten years of its life may well dictate its longevity.  Structural defects not removed then will oftentimes condemn them down the road. 

            When pruning a young tree that is destined to become a large tree, it’s important to keep in mind that the majority of the limbs present at 5 years of age are actually temporary limbs.  These limbs will not be on the tree in 10 more years.  These trees are pruned differently than those that have the majority of permanent limbs already established.

            Certified Arborists and Board Certified Master Arborists are specialists at determining how best to prune your trees to achieve your specific goals.