Pruning two branches that are growing together

[Jim Bowman]

I have an oak tree that I planted in 2005 between the sidewalk and the street. One of the branches has to come off eventually because it's growing towards the street low enough that as it grows larger, a truck could come by and rip it off. The issue I have is that directly opposite this branch, there are two more branches that are lower than what is ideal. One of them is growing towards the apron of the driveway and the other is growing towards the sidewalk. However, these two branches have grown together and together they take up about 6" of the circumference of the trunk (at the widest point where the branches flare out from the trunk), which is 19" in circumference just below the branches. The single branch that HAS to be trimmed takes up about 4" of that 19" of circumference. In other words, if I trim all three branches now, just over 50% of the tree's circumference will be bare at that level. Is that too much to trim at once? If I only trim the single branch growing over the street, how long should I wait to trim the others? Or is it better to just leave them?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Pictures would help.

I'm guessing that some subordination pruning would work instead of thinking complete removal. Or...staged removals.

Using 1/3 as a guideline look at how much you might take off of the whole tree first. then break it into portions or branches. If the tree is young it can tolerate much more removal.

At Dr. Gilman's talk last TCIA Expo his message was to make structural decisions when pruning young trees. Don't be so concerned about volume or over pruning. If the structure fails it won't make any difference anyway.

 

[guymayor]

Tom's right about reducing instead of removing all of these branches, until the crown develops, and <1/3 per year. But without pictures it's hard to say exactly.

The most important part of the tree is where it joins the earth. A pic of that area might also be helpful.

If the structure fails it won't kill anybody, but it would make a big difference to the tree and its owner.

 

[TreeLogic]

In addition to the great advice already given, I have one more thing to add; heavy pruning is better done on a young tree, rather than an older tree. I'm not condoning the removal of all the limbs. I totally agree with what Tom and Guy are saying. But when it comes time to cull the conjoined twins, better to do it while the tree is young.