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Reducing canopy spread

Branches sometimes become very long and the customer becomes concerned about the branch breaking. Limbs can be reduced in length to relieve mechanical stress and reduce the risk of breaking. Here are two examples of limbs that may have become too long.

Several small reduction cuts can be made on the lower limb in an effort to prevent it from drooping closer to the ground. This will keep it out of the way and reduce the changes of it breaking.

This limb is about 80 feet long and is growing over a valuable structure in a park. Its length can be reduced by making a reduction cut on both branches distal to the fork toward the end of the branch.