Fall is a good time to prune trees

You may think that the ap- proach of the end of the growing season means you can stop wor- rying about the trees in your land- scape. Think again.

Fall is one of the best times to examine the safety and health of your trees, say experts in tree care.

With the leaves off, cracks, de- fects and deadwood are easier to see. Also, with winter rains ap- proaching, hazards should be re- moved now--before they damage property.

"Most trees can be pruned year-round," said Peter Gersten- berger, senior advisor for safety,

standards and compliance for the Tree Care Industry Association, "and certain operations are easier to do in the fall, when dead branches are easily seen and re- moved."

Pruning is much more than the simple act of sawing off limbs. Proper pruning is an art based on scientific principles of plant physi- ology. At its most basic level, prun- ing trees involves removing dam- aged, 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 aes- thetic 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 overpruning.

Proper pruning standards re- quire the use of certain tools, cut- ting techniques and pruning meth- ods. Work estimates for tree prun- ing should be written in accor- dance to professional standards. A professional arborist:

+will not leave branch stubs

+will make few or no heading cuts

+will not cut off the branch col- lar (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

Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees should contact the Tree Care Industry Association, a 68- year-old public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture.

An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the "Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies" program by doing a ZIP code search on www.treecareindustry.org, the TCIA website.