W.B. Starr, Inc.

Landscape Services

These are the International Society of Arboriculture approved pruning methods and specifications. The primary aim of W.B. Starr, Inc. is to preserve the health and beauty of the trees we prune. There are four basic objectives when pruning. They are listed below.

This is the basic removal of all dead branches and foliage, also, crossing, broken or structurally weak wood should be removed.

Crown Clean

This is the selective removal of live branches. This allows light to penetrate through the tree and new foliage will grow from deeper inside. Thinning also allows wind to pass through the tree, reducing the possibility of branch breakage and wind damage. Up to half of the foliage can be removed leaving the tree more open but retaining its natural form.

Crown Thinning

In some cases it is necessary to reduce the overall size of a tree. To do this we use a method called "Drop Crotch Pruning." This entails removal of longer branches down to a crotch that holds another smaller branch that will some day replace the one removed. When done correctly the tree will retain its natural shape but will be smaller. When done incorrectly the tree reacts by putting out many small branches to replace foliage lost by the removal of the main branch. The tree loses its shape. This usually results when a tree is "Topped".

Crown Reduction

 

 

 

 

In other cases a tree may require its foliage to be removed along the bottom to clear for vehicle and pedestrian passage or to clear roofs and structures. Many times it is necessary to remove low branches back to the trunk.

Crown Raising