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Principles and Practices for Pruning Trees Around the Home and Landscape

Eric Wiseman
February 11, 2023

Principles and Practices for Pruning Trees Around the Home and Landscape

Presentation given at the 2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference in Wytheville, Virginia on February 11, 2023.

Eric Wiseman

February 11, 2023
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  1. Principles and Practices for Pruning
    Trees Around the Home & Landscape
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    P. Eric Wiseman, PhD
    Associate Professor of Urban and Community Forestry
    Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
    Virginia Tech
    [email protected]
    linktr.ee/EricWiseman
    @vtarborist
    Source: www.thetreecenter.com/the-basics-of-tree-trimming

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  2. 02  26
    Presentation Outline
    o Purpose of tree pruning
    o Tree biology background
    o Tree pruning tools
    o Tree pruning methods
    o Pruning trees safely
    Goal:
    Be able to recognize tree pruning needs and
    perform basic tree pruning safely and effectively
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023

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  3. 03  26
    Purpose of Tree Pruning
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Trees Around Our Homes and Landscapes

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  4. 04  26
    Purpose of Tree Pruning
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Pruning is selective removal of tree parts
    to achieve a management objective
    Appearance Health Safety Functionality
    Size
    Shape
    Density
    Flowering
    Tidiness
    Sanitation
    Eradication
    Light infiltration
    Air flow
    Crown:root balance
    Defects
    Storm damage
    Utility clearance
    Site lines
    Wildfire buffer
    Screening
    Wind break
    Vistas
    Fruit
    Solar access

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  5. 05  26
    Tree Biology Background
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023

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  6. 06  26
    Tree Biology Background
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Trunk
    Lateral Branch
    (Child)
    Terminal Branch
    (Parent)

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  7. 07  26
    Tree Biology Background
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Trunk or
    Parent Branch
    Branch
    Bark Ridge
    Branch
    Collar
    Lateral
    Branch
    Branch
    Union
    Branch
    Callus
    Trees Don’t Heal – They Seal

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  8. 08  26
    Tree Pruning Tools
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Clipping Tools Sawing Tools Pole Tools
    Size
    ¼” 2”

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  9. 09  26
    Tree Pruning Tools
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Clipping Tools Sawing Tools Pole Tools
    Size
    4” 8”

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  10. 10  26
    Tree Pruning Tools
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Clipping Tools Sawing Tools Pole Tools

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  11. 11  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Crown Cleaning
    Crown Thinning
    Crown Raising
    Crown Reducing
    Best Practices
    • Avoid excessive removal of leaf area
    • Avoid large-diameter cuts (wounds)
    • Avoid removing large branches at trunk
    • Avoid growing-season for some pests
    • Pruning sealants typically not needed
    • Hire a qualified arborist for big jobs

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  12. 12  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Before Cleaning After Cleaning
    Source: Tree Care Industry Association . (2010). Tree Care Specialist Training Manual.

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  13. 13  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Before Thinning After Thinning
    Source: Tree Care Industry Association . (2010). Tree Care Specialist Training Manual.

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  14. 14  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023

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  15. 15  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Before Raising After Raising
    Source: Tree Care Industry Association . (2010). Tree Care Specialist Training Manual.

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  16. 16  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Source: saveberwyntrees.blogspot.com/2014/05/trees.html
    Source: hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning.shtml

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  17. 17  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Before Reducing After Reducing
    Source: Tree Care Industry Association . (2010). Tree Care Specialist Training Manual.

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  18. 18  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Source: www.spsonline.com/sps Source: washingtondnr.wordpress.com

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  19. 19  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    1
    3
    2
    Three-Cut Method of Branch Removal
    Rip Cut

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  20. 20  26
    Tree Pruning Methods
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Source: hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning.shtml
    Collar Cut
    Flush Cut Stub Cut
    Branch bark
    ridge and collar
    intact
    Branch bark
    ridge and collar
    damaged
    Excess
    branch
    remains

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  21. 21  26
    Pruning Trees Safely
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Personal Protective Equipment

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  22. 22  26
    Pruning Trees Safely
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023

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  23. 23  26
    Pruning Trees Safely
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    Source: nlhydro.com/good-to-know/never-cut-trees-near-power-lines Source: www.powerwater.com.au/customers/safety-and-emergencies/updates/trees-and-powerlines

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  24. 24  26
    Pruning Trees Safely
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023

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  25. o Have a clear objective for pruning to
    avoid wasted effort and tree stress
    o Choose suitable tools and keep them
    maintained for safe, efficient pruning
    o Use pruning methods that are suitable
    for the tree species, age, and vitality
    o Wear personal protective equipment and
    hire a qualified arborist if unsure of what
    to prune or how to prune it
    25  26
    Take Home Messages
    Source: unsplash.com/photos/UewgGfZgYj0
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023

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  26. Principles and Practices for Pruning
    Trees Around the Home & Landscape
    2023 Southwest Landowner Woods & Wildlife Conference • Feb. 11, 2023
    P. Eric Wiseman, PhD
    Associate Professor of Urban and Community Forestry
    Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
    Virginia Tech
    [email protected]
    linktr.ee/EricWiseman
    @vtarborist
    26  26

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