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Six reasons to prune trees
- Remove dead branches
- Remove crossing branches
- Remove lower limbs that interfere with traffic
- To slow growth
- To reduce wind throw
- To increase light penetration
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Ring shakes
The separation of xylem circumferentially along annual rings caused by flush cuts
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Natural Target Pruning
Removal of a branch at a line intersecting the branch bark ridge and branch collar
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Branch bark ridge
A raised line of bark that forms on the upper side of where the branch joins the trunk.
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Branch collar
A distinctive bulge at the base of the branch, where it connects to the trunk.
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Drop crotch
A dominant leader is cut back to a lateral branch
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Deadwooding
Removal of dead, weak and dying branches
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Crown cleaning
Removal of dead, diseased, crowded, weakly attached, low-vigor branches and water sprouts from a tree crown
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Crown thinning
Includes crown cleaning as well as the selective removal of branches to increase light penetration and air movement, reducing weight.
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Crown reduction
Drop crotch pruning. Reduction of limbs to branches capable of assuming the terminal role (must be at least 1/3 size)
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Crown restoration
Take a few of the best sprouts resulting from topping and train them over years to become branches
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Crown raising
Removing lower branches to provide clearance for vehicles and pedestrians
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Rule of thirds
When removing a branch, cut it back to a branch at least 1/3 the diameter
Do not remove more than 1/3 the total leaf surface in any one pruning
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Timing to cable/brace
- Do not cable/brace during spring growth or leaf fall
- Prune prior to cable/brace
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Four Patterns of Cabling
- Direct
- Triangular
- Box/Rotary
- Hub and Spoke
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Types of Cable Hardware
- Threaded Rod- when decay is likely
- Eye bolts- use in decayed tree
- Amon eye nuts
- Lag hooks- no decay
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Rules of Cabling
- Cables installed directly across the crotch, 2/3 from crotch to end of limb.
- When more than one cable is installed on same branch, space 12 in apart and never directly above/below
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