Tree Pruning to ANSI Standards
Tree Pruning to ANSI Standards
Most trees can be pruned year-round if appropriately pruned, However, certain pruning operations are easier to do in the winter, especially if the ground is frozen or the tree is not actively growing Tree Pruning to ANSI Standards
Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs. Proper pruning is an art based on scientific principles of plant physiology. At its most basic level, pruning trees involves removing damaged, dead, or structurally weak limbs, improving a tree’s health and reducing the chances of personal or property damage caused by falling limbs. More advanced pruning methods aid in improving the tree’s structure and long-term health.
Proper pruning encourages growth, increases flower and fruit production, improves plant health, and removes damaged limbs, all of which give an aesthetic appeal to a tree. Pruning in the right way is critical since it can kill a tree by neglect or over-pruning. Pruning at the wrong time can be damaging to some trees and will affect tree tissues.
How can a homeowner know if an arborist will prune a tree correctly?
Ask the arborist if they prune according to the American National Standards Institute standard for tree pruning
This standard recommends, and in some cases requires, that the use of specific tools, cutting techniques, and pruning methods be followed, and sets the standard definitions for terms the arborist will use in your estimate.
In addition to the information given on the work estimate, ANSI A300 sets some guidelines for basic pruning practices that arborists should follow.
Arborists adhering to the ANSI A300 pruning standard will not:
- leave branch stubs
- make unnecessary heading cuts
- cut off the branch collar (do not make a flush cut)
- top or lion’s tail trees (stripping a branch from the inside leaving foliage just at the ends)
- remove more than 25 percent of the foliage of a single branch
- remove more than 25 percent of the total tree foliage in a single year
- damage other parts of the tree during pruning
- use wound paint
- prune without a good reason
- climb the tree with climbing spikes
Find a professional
A professional arborist like Johnson Ops Tree Care can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best and safest course of action for any work that needs to be done. Call us for an Estimate at 608 526-6297