Tree pruning

If in any doubt, engage a qualified arborist.

Hints and tips:

• Pruning for safety should always be the first objective for tree maintenance. This may involve removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage, removing branches which may interfere with sight lines on streets or driveways and removing branches that may cause damage to services (electricity, telephone etc). 
• There are also a number of reasons to prune for the health and aesthetics of the tree.  These practices include removing dead or diseased limbs, remove crossing or rubbing branches and shaping the tree to allow for increased light absorption.  All of these cultural practices aid the tree's natural processes and allow for the longevity of the tree. 
• There are many right and wrong ways to prune a tree; each pruning technique should be used to perform a specific cut.  However, there are some general rules that should be followed when undertaking any pruning. Trees have a unique ability to 'seal off' or 'compartmentalise' a wound resulting from  a natural loss of a branch, a pruning cut or mechanical damage.  This ability reduces the risk of infection from insect, bacterial or fungal organisms.  However, correct pruning of a tree can dramatically decrease the risk of decay in a tree.