Pruning Standards and Cuts Flashcards

Crown restoration pruning is most commonly applied to trees that have previously been:

Answer: Topped or severely headed

Crown restoration selectively prunes the multiple vigorous epicormic shoots that develop after topping to re-establish a more natural, structurally sound crown form.

Which scenario best justifies the use of directional pruning rather than a standard removal cut?

Answer: A live branch growing toward a power line that needs to be directed away

Directional (or lateral) pruning redirects branch growth by cutting back to a lateral positioned to grow away from the target, used especially for utility clearance.

When pruning a young tree to develop good scaffold structure, which branch spacing guideline is most appropriate?

Answer: Scaffold branches should be spaced at least 6–18 inches apart vertically along the central leader

Vertical spacing of 6–18 inches between scaffold branches (adjusted for tree species size) helps prevent whorled attachment and encourages strong, tapered branch development.

Which tool is best suited for making clean pruning cuts on branches up to 1.5 inches in diameter?

Answer: Hand pruner (bypass type)

Bypass hand pruners make clean cuts on smaller branches and are preferred over anvil pruners, which can crush stem tissue.

What effect does heavy over-pruning (removing more than 50% of live crown) typically have on a tree?

Answer: It triggers a stress response that can lead to epicormic sprouting, sunscald, and dieback

Removing excessive live crown drastically reduces photosynthetic capacity, stressing the tree and triggering massive but weakly attached epicormic sprouting and potential stem death.

Under ANSI A300 Part 1, which pruning specification type describes the desired outcome rather than dictating specific cuts?

Answer: Performance specification

Performance specifications define the desired end result (e.g., 'provide 10 feet of clearance') and allow the qualified arborist to determine which cuts achieve that outcome.

Why is it important to sanitize pruning tools between trees, especially in urban forest settings like Albuquerque?

Answer: To reduce the risk of mechanically transmitting pathogens such as fire blight or Verticillium from tree to tree

Contaminated cutting tools can directly inoculate susceptible trees with bacterial and fungal pathogens when moving between hosts, making sanitation a critical disease-management practice.