Raising the crown - lions-tailing and large removal cuts

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Poor structure develops on trees that are raised, as the left trees were, over a period of years without structural pruning. A close look at the trees on the left will reveal that both trees were also topped about 40% up the crowns a number of years ago. The combination of topping and raising too much, without structural pruning, resulted in the terrible structure you see here today. Structural pruning, combined with raising, would have resulted in clearance plus strong tree architecture. The close-up of the trunk to the right shows six or seven fairly sizable removal cuts at the trunk. It's best for the tree if this large pruning dose is spread across more than one pruning event a year or more apart.

Raising crown home | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Lions-tailed (raised too much) and topped trees	Large removal cuts close together

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