By TreesAreGood®
International Society of Arboriculture
Pruning Young Branches
As young trees grow, most of the branches present at planting will be pruned away to provide clearance for mowing, pedestrians and/or vehicle traffic.
Determining Height of Lowest Branch
The height of the lowest permanent branch is determined by the tree’s intended function and location in the landscape. The road side of a street tree may be raised to 16 feet (5 m) to accommodate traffic. In most other situations, 8 feet (2.5 m) of clearance is sufficient.
Windbreaks and Screens
Trees used as screens or windbreaks, however, usually branch low to the ground.
Branch Spacing
Sufficient branch spacing and balance, both vertically and radially, is important. The space between permanent branches should be approximately 3% of the tree’s eventual height (for example, 1.5 feet [0.5 m] for a tree that can grow to be 50 feet [15 m] tall).
Branch Strength
The strength of branch structure depends on the relative size of the branches and branch angles. Branches similar in diameter to the trunk or limb from which they arise are more prone to failure than those smaller in diameter.
Weak Attachments
Branches with weak attachments should be pruned when small. Balance should be considered by retaining some branches in each direction radially, spreading from the center outward. Make sure one scaffold branch is not allowed to grow directly above another.
Don't Starve the Tree
When pruning, be sure not to remove too many branches. Leaves and their supporting branches are major sites of food production and storage. Eliminating too much of the canopy can “starve” the tree, reduce growth, and increase stress.
When to Prune Newly Planted Trees
Limit pruning of newly planted trees to the removal of dead or broken branches. All other pruning should be withheld until the second or third year, when a tree has recovered from the stress of transplanting.
Wound Dressings
Despite claims otherwise, research has shown that wound dressings do not reduce decay or speed up wound closure. Wound dressings are occasionally used to reduce insect attacks or the visual impact of a large cut.
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