Certified Arborist Test Tree Pruning Principles 1

Question 1

According to ISA Best Management Practices, what is the maximum percentage of live crown generally recommended to remove during a single pruning session?

Accepted Answer

25%

Answer

10%

Answer

40%

Answer

50%

Question 2

What is 'lion's-tailing' and why is it considered poor arboricultural practice?

Accepted Answer

Removing interior lateral branches so foliage is concentrated only at branch ends

Answer

Shaping the canopy into a rounded silhouette by heading all branch tips

Answer

Elevating the crown by removing the lowest scaffold branches

Answer

Selectively thinning the upper canopy to admit more light to the interior

Question 3

A reduction cut is valid only when the retained lateral branch meets what minimum size requirement relative to the removed portion?

Accepted Answer

At least one-third the diameter of the removed branch

Answer

At least one-half the diameter of the removed branch

Answer

At least one-quarter the diameter of the removed branch

Answer

Any size lateral is acceptable as long as it is live

Question 4

What does current research indicate about the use of wound dressings (pruning paint or sealants) on fresh pruning cuts?

Accepted Answer

They generally provide no measurable benefit to wound closure and may inhibit compartmentalization

Answer

They significantly accelerate wound closure by locking in cambial moisture

Answer

They are beneficial when applied within 15 minutes of making the cut

Answer

They are recommended on all cuts larger than 5 cm during the growing season

Question 5

What distinguishes a 'heading cut' from a 'thinning cut'?

Accepted Answer

A thinning cut removes a branch at its point of attachment; a heading cut removes a branch at a point other than its attachment, leaving a stub or cutting to a very small lateral

Answer

A heading cut removes a branch at its point of attachment; a thinning cut shortens a branch to a lateral

Answer

A heading cut is used only on dead branches; a thinning cut is used only on live branches

Answer

Both cuts are identical — the terms are interchangeable in ISA standards