Pruning / Trimming / Shaping guide

[samsquatch]

Hey gang.
So I'm looking for some references or literature on the proper artistic techniques to trim or prune a healthy tree. What I want is that if a customer calls me and simply wants a tree shaped or pruned, then I can know what exactly I should do based on best practices for tree health, structural leaders, and shape depending on tree species.
Looking for info on any age of tree, too, like what are good practices for yearlings - all the way up to older trees that someone would want re-shaped.

Do any of you have a go-to reference for this?

 

[Jackjcc]

Look up Alex shigo’s books. Very thorough with research and will give you a solid base for BMP’s.


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[Tony]

Here is a good start.

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/powerpoints.shtml

Tony

 

[JD3000]

Yeah Gilman. His stuff on the UF website is great. His book can be had on Amazon much lower than retail as well. He also did the pruning BMP but it is probably due for an update as the ANSI was fairly recently.

See below for a decent guide as well.

 

[evo]

Mattect (sp?) has some sort of pruning gauge, I think he sold the rights to IML

 

[evo]

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I bought two extra copies of Shigos book;

http://www.wesspur.com/books/shigo-books.html

Pruning a photo guide

When I had a client who was tuned into trees like we are I'd mail them one of the books and ask that they send it back when they were done. Everyone one of them became solid clients. They learned what good practices were expected and trusted me like I trust my dentist, surgeon and financial advisor.

 

[guymayor]

"Pruning or shaping"?? Job #1 is to establish the objective. What's the goal? For mature tree care, the attached is invaluable!!

 

[JD3000]

Im with Guy here. What exactly is the goal? Depends on the tree, site, client, and your interaction and interpretation of them all.

 

[guymayor]

The Purdue paper is disappointing; confusion over 'heading cuts', and failure to accommodate multileadered species.

Yes the ISA BMP is underway but it has a long ways to go.

 

[guymayor]

Page 18 here. Henry Davis's approach is well established. https://www.tcia.org/TCI-publications/tci-magazine/pdfs/05-2003-TCI-Mag.pdf

 

[Tony]

"Pruning or shaping"?? Job #1 is to establish the objective. What's the goal? For mature tree care, the attached is invaluable!!

Guy,

I agree. But let’s not battle semantics. Give the width and breadth of your knowledge! (Well...within reason!) samsquach will figure it out and ask other questions...

 

[guymayor]

And page 8 here https://www.tcia.org/TCI-publications/tci-magazine/pdfs/09-2002-TCI-Mag.pdf

And I dare Anyone to read the new A300 Part 1 and make sense of it!

“Plan the work, and work the plan” is excellent advice for physically getting around in the tree, and for first mentally planning the work once you get there. “Pruning objectives shall be established before pruning,” the ANSI A300 pruning clause reminds us. Then, “the arborist shall clearly state what is going to be done to achieve the objective.”

 

[Tony]

Guy,

Again I agree!

Let me put is this way: Years ago I was asked after finishing a rather simple pruning job( Japanese Maple) “ How do you know what to take out?” I responded as I was trained. “What I take out does not matter. It’s what I leave behind.”

So... standards, guidelines, preconceptions aside, discuss what is left behind. I think that is what is being asked for.

Tony

 

[guymayor]

hmmmm what is taken out does not matter? So doesn't wounding matter?

It's really hard to talk in general terms about such a diverse activity. Better to post pics and state the goals, and then specify treatments.

How could you describe this pruning job by saying what you left behind?

http://portal.treebuzz.com/regenerating-hollow-trees-for-life-815

 

[SomethingWitty]

hmmmm what is taken out does not matter? So doesn't wounding matter?

It's really hard to talk in general terms about such a diverse activity. Better to post pics and state the goals, and then specify treatments.

That's fun phrasing. The wounds aren't taken. They are left behind.

Edit: man, I really like that. Everything about the tree's circumstances that should remain does. "I'm leaving a mature, hollow post oak with no deadwood of any size, strong low and interior growth, as little leverage and wind sail as is reasonable on the top half (or a wordier explaination of basically this), and with no fresh wounds over 4 inches in diameter." It really doesn't matter once it comes off of the tree. At that moment the tree has what it has got left.
Maybe that is a little goofy and philosophical, but I think it is lots of fun.

 

[Tony]

hmmmm what is taken out does not matter? So doesn't wounding matter?

It's really hard to talk in general terms about such a diverse activity. Better to post pics and state the goals, and then specify treatments.

How could you describe this pruning job by saying what you left behind?

http://portal.treebuzz.com/regenerating-hollow-trees-for-life-815

Yes, of course wounding matters. Of course, becasue the wood is left behind Knowing how to physically make a proper cut that works with a tree’s systems and where to put that cut are separate things. Related, but different. A cut can be singularly proper, but wrong for the system.

So many pruning conversations revolve aound the science of the act. Again agreed, pruning is a vastly diverse activity that requires set goals and standards. I simply think it would be valuable and entertaining to speak to the “artistic” side as well.

Tony

 

[JD3000]

The artistic side can be super fun too. Pruning and shaping those gorgeous smaller ornamentals like Japanese maple or Chinese dogwoods over the years can be enjoyable days of work.

 

[samsquatch]

Exactly. I think some or maybe most customers asking for pruning are concerned with the aesthetics of the trees, and they leave it up to the arborist to make sure that "what's left behind" is safe and appropriate for the life of the tree.

As a new guy, I'm concerned with both because I have little experience in the matter. Thanks for the discussion points and the references! It's appreciated.

Feel free to continue here with pics or examples of your proudest pruning work!

 

[guymayor]

It's hard to see where science stops and art begins here. Pruning for appearance can be specified according to standards, just like pruning for any other objective.

I'm proud of the appearance of the standard reductions that I've done. They created not only more safety, but a more pleasing shape! This is one example of many where TRAQ-trained assessors recommended removal based on inexperience, incomplete inspection, paranoia and junque science. A few hours of pruning, and the asset remains.

http://portal.treebuzz.com/regenerating-hollow-trees-for-life-815