Structural trimming is essential for the wellbeing of any tree. It encourages the growth of healthy and sturdy trees in urban landscapes. When executed properly, it can enhance the longevity and safety of your tree.

Structural pruning is about improving the branch architecture within a tree’s crown area to create a central and stronger leading stem with a network of adequately spaced branches of lesser diameter growing alongside.

The overall purpose of structural pruning is to prolong the lifespan of your landscape or yard tree.

Structural pruning is the systematic reduction or removal of a tree’s competing branches within the crown area to force growth into a selected leader stem, boosting the tree’s stability, health, and aesthetics. During structural pruning, an arborist performs reduction cuts on several large branches, including removing those with defects to give the tree better stability and avoid premature tree failure1, which can endanger human lives and property.

Benefits of structural pruning include:

  1. Structural pruning creates a well-balanced and more enjoyable tree.
  2. Structural pruning allows the crown to grow bigger and better, preserving it in the process.
  3. It increases tree longevity.
structural tree pruningx900
833 604 1315

Want a shortcut?

The fastest and easiest way to get 3 Estimates from the most affordable tree services near you would be by using this FREE service.

GoTreeQuotes quickly matches you with the three tree surgeons voted #1 by previous users in your area.

  1. Scroll up to the top of the page and enter your ZIP Code in the blue form at the top of the page.
  2. Give us a few details about your tree trimming or removal job, plus some contact information.
  3. Your tree details are forwarded on to the closest three tree services, all voted best priced who will also price your tree job

Objectives of structural pruning

Structural pruning is a low-cost tree maintenance approach that aims to create a landscape tree structure similar to the trees growing in forest conditions. The objective is to create a safer and more stable tree that is less susceptible to wind damage, drought, and extreme temperatures.

We will use the images below2 as an example to discuss the impact of both light and moderate structural pruning on a branch-heavy tree.

Problem

The stems (a, b, and c) on the young trees in Image 1 are codominant, and they compete for crown leadership, which can threaten the tree’s stability as it grows older. Multiple leader stems increase the tree aspect ratio (the ratio of branch diameter to trunk diameter), which makes the tree more prone to failure than trees with one leader stem and a lower aspect ratio.

Before

before purning

After

after purning

Solution

Using reduction cut to reduce the size of stems ‘a’ and ‘c,’ channels more growth into the selected leader stem ‘b,’ and restricts growth on stems ‘a’ and ‘c.’ This allows ‘b’ to evolve into the dominant trunk by receiving more sunlight and nutrition, thus reducing the tree aspect ratio.

Before

after purning

After follow up prune

after moderate purning

Phase 2: Moderate follow-up prune

Moderate pruning is comparable to light pruning. However, almost half of the tree foliage is removed to balance the tree, and enhance its aesthetics. You can use this more forceful approach if you want to leave the tree unpruned for several years or do not intend to prune the tree again.

Get Matched with a Tree Removal Expert in Your State