Topping is a high-maintenance pruning practice, with hidden costs. One is the reduction in property value. Healthy, well-maintained trees can add 10 to 20 percent to the value of a property. Disfigured, topped trees are an impending expense as well as hazard. The cost of topping a tree is not limited to what the perpetrator […]
Monthly Archives: January 2012
16
Jan
Jan
A good structure of primary scaffold branches should be established while the tree is young. The scaffold branches provide the framework of the mature tree. Properly trained young trees will develop a strong structure that requires less corrective pruning as they mature. The goal in training young trees is to establish a strong trunk with […]
16
Jan
Jan
Pruning of newly planted trees should be limited to corrective pruning. Remove torn or broken branches, and save other pruning measures for the second or third year. The belief that trees should be pruned when planted to compensate for root loss is misguided. Trees need their leaves and shoot tips to provide food and the […]
16
Jan
Jan
Wound dressings were once thought to accelerate wound closure, protect against insects and diseases, and reduce decay. However, research has shown that dressings do not reduce decay or speed closure and rarely prevent insect or disease infestations. Most experts recommend that wound dressings not be used. If a dressing must be used for cosmetic purposes, […]
15
Jan
Jan
Most routine pruning to remove weak, diseased, or dead limbs can be accomplished at any time during the year with little effect on the tree. As a rule, growth is maximized and wound closure is fastest if pruning takes place before the spring growth flush while tree is dormant. Some trees, such as maples and […]
14
Jan
Jan
Trees that fall into or contact utility lines have additional serious consequences. Not only can they injure people or property near the line, but also hitting a line may cause power outages, surges, fires, and other damage. Downed lines still conducting electricity are especially dangerous. A tree with a potential to fall into a utility […]
14
Jan
Jan
Because each cut has the potential to change the growth of the tree, no branch should be removed without a reason. Common reasons for pruning are to remove dead branches, to remove crowded or rubbing limbs, and to eliminate hazards. Trees may also be pruned to increase light and air penetration to the inside of […]
13
Jan
Jan
When pruning trees, it is important to have the right tool for the job. For small trees, most of the cuts can be made with hand pruners. The scissor-type, or bypass blade hand pruners are preferred over the anvil type. They make cleaner, more accurate cuts. Cuts larger than one-half inch in diameter should be […]
08
Jan
Jan
The preferred location to make a pruning cut is just beyond the branch collar at the branch’s point of attachment. The tree is biologically equipped to close such a wound, provided the tree is healthy enough and the wound is not too large. Cuts made between lateral branches create stubs with wounds that are difficult […]
01
Jan
Jan
Where you make a pruning cut is critical to a tree’s response in growth and wound closure. Make pruning cuts just outside the branch collar. Because the branch collar contains trunk or parent branch tissues, the tree will be damaged unnecessarily if you remove or damage it. In fact, if the cut is large, the […]
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