Home > Pruning shade trees > Practice pruning > Pruning is needed now

Pruning is needed now

1) Three branches on the lower left side of the tree should be reduced in length now. Since each will be removed from the tree at some point in the future keep them small in diameter by shortening them. This will slow their growth rate. Small branches will leave a smaller wound when the branches are eventually removed.

2) Pick one stem to be the leader in the top of the tree and shorten the competing leaders to slow their growth rate. Regular pruning in this manner will produce a tree with one dominant trunk which is considered a better structure for many shade trees.

• Trees
  • Urban design |
  • Site |
  • Selection |
  • Nursery |
  • Planting |
  • Pruning |
  • Health |
  • Species |
  • Roots |
  • Structure |
  • Wood |
  • Storms |
  • Arborists |
  • Plan |
  • See: Power lines
• Shrubs
  • Selection |
  • Production |
  • Maintenance |
  • Species |
  • See: Planting
• Groundcover
  • Selection |
  • Production |
  • Maintenance
• Palms
• PowerPoints
• Fact sheets
• Research papers
• Landscape designs
• Other resources
• Topic index