Don't Top Trees!

Late in the winter, amateur arborists in Solano County find it an ideal time to prune their trees.  It is the time of the year when most of the trees are free of cumbersome leaves which are time consuming to clean up after a trim.  Leaves also tend to hinder branch identification by obstructing their view.   The fact is the winter is the time of year when deciduous trees are easiest to work with.  Consequently, it is also the time of year when we see when catastrophic tree injury caused by an individual, uneducated in horticulture, with a chainsaw and good intentions.  Before you set out to prune, remember the serious do’s and don’ts for the amateur arborist to consider before taking that chain saw to that precious tree.  The first rule when pruning a tree is not to stub or head the tree branches, instead remove the entire branch so that another branch can assume the new lead-this method is called thinning.  An equally important tip is to never top a tree, it ruins the natural shape of the tree and leaves it more vulnerable to pests and disease as it ages.  The final piece of advice is to never make a flush cut down to the trunk of a branch, instead leave a small collar at the base of every branch but don’t leave a long stub either (the photo attached shows stubs left far too long).  The final piece of tree trimming is to remove any diseased or dead branches and smaller competing limbs.  The idea is to thin the branches equally around the entire tree.  This is a topic that I recommend you speak with an arborist or master gardener about if you have any questions because trees are such an important investment in your landscape.

A tree that has been improperly pruned. Note the topped branches.(photo by Ed Walbolt)

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