Tree Pruning LHAP 305 - Printable Outline

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1. Tree Pruning

Ballard LHAP 305

2. Tree Pruning Techniques

Pruning for Structure
Pruning to Thin
Pruning to Clean
Pruning to Raise
Pruning to Reduce
Pruning to Restore
Pollarding
Fruit Tree Pruning
Other Forms of Pruning

3. Pruning for Structure

Removal of live branches and stems to influence the orientation, spacing, growth rate, strength of unions, and ultimate size of the branches and stems.

Meant for small and medium sized trees Goals Keep limb size to less than ½ diameter of the trunk

Reduce branch breaking

Maintain the trunk and branch arrangement In a pruning plan

Remove dead, damaged, and diseased branches Designate a single leader

Establish the lowest permanent scaffold branches
Establish scaffold limbs

4. Picture of Pruning for Structure

An Artistic Arborist. (n.d.). Details About Pruning. An Artistic Arborist. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025

Course visual for Picture of Pruning for Structure

5. Pruning for Structure of Conifers

Steps 1 and 2 are the same.

Step 3 - important depending on tree location and local by-laws. If no regulations, then don't need to do it.

Step 4 - less important in conifers, typically only remove branches with weak attachments.

Step 5 - only needed if a lowest permanent branch is established.

Briones, G. (2025, June 17). How to Prune Conifers: 14 Steps (with Pictures). wikiHow. Retrieved November 19, 2025

Course visual for Pruning for Structure of Conifers

6. Pruning to Thin

Thinning is a selective removal of small living branches to reduce crown density

Goals are to
Retain proper shape
Even spread of canopy
Increased air flow

Increased sunlight penetration Includes removal of sucker and water sprouts

In a pruning plan
Give a size range
Max live wood to be removed

Johnsons Nursery. (2024, Mar 8). Thinning cuts method of pruning. Johnsons Nursery. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025,

M&M Tree Service. (n.d.). Tree Pruning & Trimming. M&M Tree Service. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025

7. Pruning to Clean

Removal of dead, damaged, or diseased branches Goals

Reduce hazards

Reduce movement of decay, insects and diseases Main part of pruning plan

“Clean branches 2.5 cm diameter and larger.

A-Plus Tree care & Sustainability. (n.d.). Pruning Treatment Definitions. A-Plus Tree care & Sustainability. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025

8. Pruning to Raise

Removing selected branches to provide vertical clearance

Goals
Clearance for people
Clearance for vehicles
Clearance for signs
Clearance for buildings

Keep the live crown ratio to 66% or higher In a pruning plan

Giving specification for how high to raise the canopy

“Raise 3 meters above the road by removal or reduction of interfering branches”

Russell Tree Experts — Pruning Guide. (n.d.). Russell Tree Experts. Retrieved November 18, 2025

9. Pruning to Reduce

Removal of branches to decrease height or spread of trees or shrubs

Goals
Reduce risk of failure
Reduce height or spread

Clearance from above utilities or structures Improved appearance

Use reduction or removal cuts, not heading cuts In a pruning plan

Include clearance distance Specify the branch size range

Typically between 2.5 - 10 cm diameter

Russell Tree Experts — Pruning Guide. (n.d.). Russell Tree Experts. Retrieved November 18, 2025

10. Pruning to Restore

Removal of branches and stubs from trees that have been topped, damaged, poorly pruned, vandalized or broken by a storm.

Goals
Improve health
Improve structure
Improve appearance
In a pruning plan

Removal of all pruning stubs Remove damaged branches

Remove ⅓ of sprouts, reduce ⅓ of sprouts, Keep ⅓ of sprouts

Olsen, J. L., & Bell, N. (n.d.). Training and pruning your home orchard | OSU Extension Service. OSU Extension Service. Retrieved November 18, 2025

11. Pollarding

Way of pruning trees by using heaving heading cuts and then removing the water sprouts every year

Used to be used as a way to harvest the branches

A-Plus Tree care & Sustainability. (n.d.). Pruning Treatment Definitions. A-Plus Tree care & Sustainability. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025

When to Pollard Trees: The Essential Guide. (n.d.). My Trusted Expert. Retrieved November 19, 2025

12. Fruit Tree Pruning

Modified Central Leader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqbGjMFOiLk

Open Center Training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCqRWfZWPMk

13. Other forms of Pruning

Espalier - Trees pruned to be flat along a structure

Coppicing - Removing all above ground parts Topiary - careful pruning to develop defined shapes

Bonsai - Maintain a shape and size of a tree

Pleaching- form of weaving branches in order to create a wall

Edwards, G. (2020, Dec 10). Pruning an Established Apple Espalier. Edwards Garden Services. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025

Econation. (n.d.). Coppicing Wood. Econation. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025

Findlay, L. (2021, November 7). Topiary Shapes. Blooming Lucky. Retrieved November 19, 2025

Kandra, J. (2024, August 26). Bonsai for Beginners from the Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover + Share. Retrieved November 19, 2025

Robertson, I. (2007, March 03). Pleached Fencing. Geograph. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025

Course visual for Other forms of Pruning

14. Pruning Impact on Wind Load

Wind can cause many problems for trees that are already experiencing defects.

Pruning is a way we can reduce that force of wind on a tree known as wind sail.

How can we mitigate this risk?

Course visual for Pruning Impact on Wind Load

15. Pruning impact on Tree Structure

Strong tree structure

One dominant trunk and leader Strong branch unions

Balanced canopy
Proper air flow

Good root stability and anchoring.

True to natural form
Branch Aspect Ratio
Branch Spacing
Trunk and Branch taper
Branch Orientation

University of Florida. (2020, Jan 24). Save Strong and Healthy Trees for Preservation. University of Florida. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025

Course visual for Pruning impact on Tree Structure

16. Pruning Dose and Pruning Cycle

Pruning Dose - How much living wood to remove at one time.

As a general statement

Nursery size trees - up to 50% live wood Small, medium size - no more than 25-33%

Mature trees - No more than 20% Pruning Cycle - How often to prune a tree

In Alberta a good schedule would be once every 9- 12 months of growing season.

That really means about once a year.

Less often as the tree matures, assuming its had regular structural pruning done each previous year.

17. When to Prune

Dormant season is typically the best time to prune most species

Avoid pruning during times such as During leaf out

During leaf fall

When sap is flowing - Maples, Birch During flowering

During times of heavy fruit production When laws forbid it - Elms (April 1 - Sept 30)

(deHaas, 2023)

18. Co-Dominant Stem management

Best time to deal with co-dominance is when the tree is young and small.

Look for

Narrow “V” Shape union Included bark Cracks What can we do?

Prune when young

Subordinate over a few years Cable and brace removal

(Rain City Tree Works, n.d.)

Course visual for Co-Dominant Stem management

19. Pruning Plan Specifications

The specifications submitted with your pruning plan

Include
Name and Company

Species names, amounts, and locations Pruning objectives

Pruning procedures

Statement of what pruning regulations you are following

Ansi A300, ANSI Z133, OHS Part 39 Worker qualifications

Pictures
Pruning Plan Specifications

20. Bibliography

A-Plus Tree care & Sustainability. (n.d.). Pruning Treatment Definitions. A-Plus Tree care & Sustainability. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025, from https://aplustree.com/pruning-definitions/

An Artistic Arborist. (n.d.). Details About Pruning. An Artistic Arborist. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025, from https://artisticarborist.weebly.com/pruning-details.html

Briones, G. (2025, June 17). How to Prune Conifers: 14 Steps (with Pictures). wikiHow. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://www.wikihow.com/Prune-Conifers deHaas, T. (2023, July 28). Why do Trees Bleed? | BYGL. BYGL (osu.edu). Retrieved November 21, 2025, from https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2205

Econation. (n.d.). Coppicing Wood. Econation. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025, from https://econation.one/blog/coppicing-wood/

Edwards, G. (2020, Dec 10). Pruning an Established Apple Espalier. Edwards Garden Services. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025, from https://www.edwardsgardenservices.co.uk/pruning-an-apple-espalier/

Findlay, L. (2021, November 7). Topiary Shapes. Blooming Lucky. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://bloominglucky.com/topiary-shapes-the-best-ones-to-try/

Fruit Pruning Channel. (2024, Feb 03). Modified Central Leader in Fruit Trees. Youtube. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqbGjMFOiLk

Johnsons Nursery. (2024, Mar 8). Thinning cuts method of pruning. Johnsons Nursery. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025, from https://kb.jniplants.com/thinning-cuts-pruning

Kandra, J. (2024, August 26). Bonsai for Beginners from the Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover + Share. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://discoverandshare.org/2024/08/26/beginner-bonsai-guide/

M&M Tree Service. (n.d.). Tree Pruning & Trimming. M&M Tree Service. Retrieved Nov 18, 2025, from https://mmtrees.myshopify.com/pages/tree-pruning-trimming?srsltid=AfmBOoqUZFx7Q8LpvaNV83f9jBs143AI8GiihDPEQ1cU0fBbYU0wTugX

Olsen, J. L., & Bell, N. (n.d.). Training and pruning your home orchard | OSU Extension Service. OSU Extension Service. Retrieved November 18, 2025, from https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-400-training-pruning-your-home-orchard

Rain City Tree Works. (n.d.). Codominant Tops in Conifers: What Homeowners in the Snoqualmie Valley Should Know. Rain City Tree Works. Retrieved Nov 21, 2025, from https://www.raincitytreeworks.com/post/codominant-tops-in-trees-what-homeowners-in-the-snoqualmie-valley-should-know

Robertson, I. (2007, March 03). Pleached Fencing. Geograph. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025, from https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/352057

Russell Tree Experts — Pruning Guide. (n.d.). Russell Tree Experts. Retrieved November 18, 2025, from https://www.russelltreeexperts.com/pruningguide

Tibbets, P., & Huang, S. (2023, September 18). Developing and Maintaining a Pollard. A Plus Tree. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://aplustree.com/developing-and-maintaining-a-pollard/

UC Santa Cruz Center for Agrocology. (2022, Jan 08). How to use spreaders to train a pear tree to an open center form. Youtube. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCqRWfZWPMk

University of Florida. (2020, Jan 24). Save Strong and Healthy Trees for Preservation. University of Florida. Retrieved Nov 19, 2025, from https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/protect-strong.shtml

When to Pollard Trees: The Essential Guide. (n.d.). My Trusted Expert. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://mytrustedexpert.com/blog/when-to-pollard-trees-the-essential-guide/

Referenced Videos

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