Pruning Trees

The Forestry Division performs pruning of trees in the City of Springfield. There are many different ways and types of pruning done to our trees, each has a distinct purpose and requires proper techniques. The types of pruning include crown reduction, crown cleaning, and crown elevation. Although there are many more types of pruning, these three are the foundation of the work performed by our Forestry Division.

These arboricultural terms are used to familiarize the homeowner when hiring an arborist to perform trimming in your private trees.

Crown Reduction: The pruning of a tree where the overall size of the tree is reduced for clearance of utilities and buildings.

Crown Cleaning: The pruning of a tree where dead and undesirable structured branches are removed to help reduce hazards and promote better tree growth.

Crown Elevation: The pruning of a tree where the overall height of the crown is increased to allow for pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

Here are some tips to help you better understand the correct pruning process, allowing you to trim your private trees within your ability.

The overall lesson in pruning is safety, safety for you and for the tree.
Never attempt to work on a job you are not capable of doing.
Only use sharp tools and make clean cuts.
Never prune near utility wires.
Never attempt beyond your ability. *When in doubt call an insured professional arborist.

When pruning live or dead branches it is important to not injure the branch collar. This collar aids in the callusing process that helps in the healing of the pruned branch.
Make cut #1. an under cut that will prevent the bark from peeling back to the trunk.
Make cut #2. a cut from point A. to point B.
Now all that remains is a stub.
Locate the branch collar.
Make a clean cut just outside the branch collar.

When pruning it is important to not:
Injure the branch collar.
Leave stubs.
Paint cuts.