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.

Transcript

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
   vtuf@vt.edu
   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
    vtuf@vt.edu
    linktr.ee/EricWiseman
    @vtarborist
    26  26
    

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