Ask an Arborist: The ABC's of Pruning

This is part three of a three-part dormant pruning series. Watch Ask an Arborist: The Rules of Pruning to catch up on part two.

When pruning your trees, there are steps you can follow to ensure you are making the proper cuts and not removing too much off your tree. Tree experts Andrew Pleninger and Chris Luley created The ABCs Field Guide to Young and Small Tree Pruning to help guide the pruning process. The rules of the ABC’s will tell you where to start, what branches to prune, and when you are finished. Follow these rules to help get you started on your tree pruning.

Step A: Assess the tree
o How is the tree growing? Is it healthy?
o What is the setting? Does human activity dictate a desired form for the tree?
o What species is it? What is its natural form? Is it a ‘shade’ tree or ‘ornamental’ tree? This will dictate how you prune.

Step B: remove Bad branches
o Start with the three ‘Ds’ – dead, damaged, and diseased.
o Next, look for branches that are rubbing, or those weakly attached.
o Look at the tree, and the pile of branches removed so far, if you haven’t reached any of the limits in the ‘five factors,’ continue.

Step C: remove or reduce Competing branches
o You identified the central leader in Step One; now we want to address any competing branches:
 Co-dominant stems: it’s best to keep this cut as small as possible, so complete removal is usually best.
 Competing laterals: these are branches that have a shoot headed upward at the same height as the leader.
o Next, focus on areas where multiple branches connect to the trunk at the same place. Develop better branch spacing by removing one each year, starting with the largest one first.
o Next, consider clearance: these temporary branches in the lower third of tree height improve trunk strength, but may need to be shortened.
o Finally, consider crossing (not rubbing) branches or chances to improve vertical branch spacing.
Every pruning cut is a new chance to observe the tree in light of the “five factors;” stop pruning when any of the factors are reached.

If we focus our pruning efforts strategically – with the right tools – we can develop long-lived urban trees.

Have a tree question you want answered? Tweet @arborday with #AskAnArborist .
Follow us on Social and stay up to date:

[brookelayne]

Ok wow. I feel silly to say this but, the red line graphics are so helpful! Makes what and where to cut so much clearer. Thank you for the informative video.

[downbntout]

Thanks to the added effects, I've finally found a clear pruning video

[MW-xmrc]

I always remember what my German grandfather said, “all trees want to be bushes and all bushes want to be trees”.

[paulsDIYsolutions]

Great video. To the point. Makes sense. Good graphics. Learned a lot in 5 minutes. Thank you.

[bigwavesun]

Just started as an arborist groundsman with a company in Georgia. I'm new and got asked to do a prune on 4 small trees. I got the job done, and client was satisfied, but I would've been way more confident had I watched this video before!

[androidkenobi]

best video i've found over a couple hours b/c u took the time to draw lines clearly identifying the limbs as well as really breaking down how to even identify which to snip

[samanthajefferson]

Very clear especially the lines running up the branches that need pruning. Thanks.

[sahmadi]

Nice. Than you for not cutting down the tree like other prunning experts.

[michaeldougfir]

Greetings from rural NE California.
I have been an arborist since the '80s. The first thing I like to emphasize to someone learning trees is Proper Cuts when pruning. And leaving NO STUBS.

Second to that -- how to choose what errant branches need attention.

I was glad to see you go back and finish that last cut. People could see that stub being removed and fall away.

For a very quick lesson I like your A B C'S. Thanks for a good video. Well aimed at the arbor newbie.

[deegee]

Sure would be nice to see this tree in the subsequent blooming and growing seasons over a 2-3 year period

[ADRIAN-zhti]

After watching this video i honestly feel i could start my pruning busines on small trees.

[teambeining]

God bless you and thank you for this easy guide from an ignorant novice!

[tdilly]

I honestly feel like I learned a lot in that few minutes honestly

[carlosjimenez]

What about the lower branch? Would you eliminate it to help the tree grow bigger crown?

[lookinforwater]

Great video! Would like another video addressing a mid-sized live oak. They have so many branches it’s hard to know where to begin.

[realtor]

Just took a look at my tree out front that hasn’t been cut or when it has, previous owner did it poorly. So many competing branches out there…probably have to do this over a couple of years to not weaken or kill the tree.

[anachalagashvili]

Thank you so much for sharing this information, it seems really helpful.

[jeremiahcopenhaver]

I was actually researching for the passage in John 15 to clearly understand pruning in spiritual terms. Jesus uses this analogy saying he is the true vine. Anyone that abides or grows into me will produce much fruit. But if there are bad branches, he will prune them and throw them away, and if there are competing branches, he will prune them away so that the branch will produce much fruit. Really powerful and beautiful analogy, and this video helped me process that!

[brntb]

SO GOOG I DIDN'T WANT THE VIDEO TO END👍

[AlexSmith-fsro]

Thank you, very informative.
From the UK here, every time I prune my trees, apple pear, plumb, morello cherry and grape vines, the produce little or no fruit on that year. Every time I do not prune them, they produce loads of fruits!!
Hopefully with your suggestions, I'll better this year. Frustrating, and years are passing by.