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Typical structure
Shade trees in urban landscapes should have one trunk up into the canopy with the first limb about 20 feet off the ground. This allows clearance for vehicles and buildings without worrying too much about limbs drooping too low. If large branches are positioned closer to the ground than about 20 feet, they will often droop to get in the way of vehicles and will require removal. By this time, they have grown to a large size and the pruning wound will be huge. This is not good for the tree.
