Fall is a great time to prune
Contributed by the Tree Care Industry Association

You may think that the approach of the end of the growing season means you can stop worrying about the trees in your landscape. Think again!

Fall is one of the best times to examine the safety and health of your trees, say experts in tree care. Why? With the leaves off, cracks, defects, and deadwood are easier to see. Also, with winter storms approaching, hazards should be removed now - before they damage property.

"Most trees can be pruned year-round," says Peter Gerstenberger, senior advisor for safety, standards & compliance for the Tree Care Industry Association, "And certain operations are easier to do in the fall, when dead branches are easily seen and removed."

Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs. Proper pruning is an art based on scientific principles of plant physiology. At its most basic level, pruning trees involves removing damaged, dead, or structurally weak limbs, which will improve a tree's health and reduce the chances of personal or property damage caused by falling limbs.

Proper pruning encourages growth, increases flower and fruit production, improves plant health, repairs damage and helps add aesthetic appeal to a tree. Pruning at the right time and in the right way is critical, since it is possible to kill a tree through neglect or over-pruning.

An arborist should prune according to the American National Stan-dards Institute standard for tree pruning, which is called ANSI A300.

If an arborist is adhering to the ANSI A300 pruning standard they:

+will not leave branch stubs.

+will make few or no heading cuts.

+will not cut off the branch collar (not make a flush cut).

+will not top or lion's tail trees.

+will not remove more than 25 percent of the foliage of a single branch.

+will not remove more than 25 percent of the total tree foliage in a single year.

+will not damage other parts of the tree during pruning.

+will not use wound paint.

An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the "Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies" program. 1-800-733-2622 or www.treecareindustry.org.