UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service 

458 Highway 98 North 

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578 

Phone: (863) 763-6469 

E-mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu 

February 25, 2004

 

Feature Article - for release the week of February 29, 2004

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

 

 

 Round and Square Trees are Dangerous

 

Tree pruning is a subject that many people think they know something about. However, when I see the tree mutilation that sometimes occurs in our area, I have to wonder if folks really understand how trees grow and respond to proper pruning.

 

This past week Martin County's Extension Director Carol Bailey sent me some pictures of some poorly pruned plants.  They are not unlike some examples that can be seen in our area.  There is a lot of misinformation out there about pruning.  If people knew how dangerous it is to box their trees into artificial shapes, they would never accept such practices.

 

 

Trees are living growing things and should be planted where there is room to grow.  They need to be trained and guided while young, and left to fulfill their destiny without interference.  Here are some basics:

 

·        Don't plant large-maturing trees (like oaks) in areas with less than 20 by 20 feet of ground area. This includes near buildings such as your home.

 

·        In a parking lot, group trees together in several large planting islands rather than jabbing them into many small islands distributed over the site.

 

·        Buy quality plants that are true to type. A tree that typically has a single trunk should have a single trunk - with branches spaced out on the trunk.

·        Do not prune the tree or any other plant at planting.

·        Don't remove green leaves from palm trees.  Green frond removal weakens the palm; causes "penciling" of the trunk; and can wound the palm, allowing insects and diseases to shorten the life of the palm. Hurricanes generally don't blow green frond off palms.  However, it is OK to remove dead leaves and fruit stalks.

 

 

Tree pruning is a special service that should be performed by professionals.  There tree service professionals that are well versed in proper pruning, and have the tools and experience to do this. They are called Certified Arborists.

 

Young trees need to be trained to encourage a strong trunk. Make a date with an arborist to take a look at them at year 2 and 5 after planting, and then review their condition every 5-7 years after that.  Select scaffold limbs early in the life of a tree to avoid cutting large branches later - removal of larger branches can result in trunk decay. 

 

Thinning allows light to penetrate inside the tree and will help keep interior branches alive, increases airflow and allows more sunlight to reach the ground beneath the tree.  When more air passes through the canopy instead of pushing against it, trees resist storm damage better.

 

Topping is the worst thing that you can do to a tree. Trees that suffer the most after hurricanes have been abused by  "hurricane" pruning.  Topping starts branch and trunk decay, stimulates tight and leafy growth and makes the trees more dangerous. Topping costs more in the long run, attracts insects, and is ugly. Topping does not help prevent damage during a storm.

 

 

Pruning trees to look like round lollipops of squares on sticks is just another form of topping. If the tree is too large for the location, consider replacing with a smaller species. Don't prune to a lion's tail where all the growth and branches inside a tree's canopy are removed - leaving small tufts of leaves at the end of branches. This is just as harmful as topping.

 

Trees are the pride and joy of our Florida Yards.  Spend a little time to ensure a healthy, strong urban forest. 

 

Okeechobee Master Gardeners are available to answer your questions on pruning on Tuesday afternoons here at our office.   If you need additional information, see our website http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu or call or stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North.  Our phone number is 863-763-6469, and you can email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu.

 

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information.  They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named.  The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.

For more information visit these websites:

Community Tree Care http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG249

Pruning shade trees in landscapes http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning/index.htm