Pruning Trees (Part 2 of 2)

How to Prune

Before you begin pruning assess the entire tree. Come up with a comprehensive plan and ultimate goal of what you are trying to accomplish. Make good pruning cuts. When you prune a tree you are creating a wound. Trees don't heal like people do; they do not regenerate tissue. Rather, trees callus over wounds or compartmentalize to seal off decay. The wound will forever be a part of the tree. Keeping that in mind, it is important to minimize the damage made from a pruning cut.

• Once a branch has been chosen for removal, identify the branch collar or bulge near the base of the branch (below).

• The branch collar contains active tissues that help in the healing process. It is important not to damage this part of the tree when making your cut.
• When making the cut, try to keep your hand pruners or saw just on the outside of the branch collar.
• If you cut into the branch collar it is called a "flush cut" and should be avoided

• If you cut too far out from the branch collar you are likely to leave a stub. The tree will have a hard time healing over a stub leaving it vulnerable to diseases and harmful bacteria.

• Here is an example of a proper pruning cut made just on the outside of the branch collar but not too far out on the branch so as not to leave a stub.

• Establish a central leader. Establishing a central leader will encourage upward growth of the tree. It will also create better structure and aesthetics as well as long term health and safety.
• The tree in the photo below left has co-dominant leaders, or two competing leaders. If left alone this may create future problems, as shown on right

• The photos below are showing how one leader can be removed. Try to keep the main stem or the branch with higher growth rate and remove the other one.

• If the branch is too large to cut with a hand pruners then use the 1-2-3 cut method to avoid tearing the bark as the branch separates from the tree.

 

 

o   Cut 1: Saw into the underside of the branch. Be sure to score the entire lower side of the branch.

o   Cut 2: Saw off the weight of the branch a few inches out from the first cut.

o   Cut 3: Remove the stub on the outside of the branch collar.

Rules to Remember

• If the pruning requires a chainsaw and ladder then call a professional arborist
• Never prune more than 25% of the tree's canopy at one time
• NEVER top a tree (shown below left). It is harmful and creates a dangerous tree
• Don't "lion's tail" or over thin the crown (shown below right)
• Do not tip the branches (cut off the ends of the branches)
• Be sure that you use sharp and sanitized pruning equipment. Dirty equipment can spread disease.  

 

 

To help you determine when and why you should prune your trees, see Part 1 of this series.

Pruning Trees (part 1 of 2)

Pruning is an essential part of caring for urban trees. In nature, trees self-prune in response to different environmental influences. In a yard or boulevard, trees may require help from humans to be good tree citizens in a people-dominated world. Formative pruning on young trees can help them grow to be strong and beautiful. Pruning on larger trees can improve the safety and health of the tree. Keep in mind that improper pruning is detrimental to the overall health and vigor of a tree. Before you prune be sure you are educated and informed on the proper methods of pruning and always consult a professional if you are unsure.

Reasons to Prune

There are several reasons why it may be necessary to prune your tree. Here are a few of them:

• To remove broken or damaged branches
• To remove diseased limbs or limbs infested with pests, fungus or bacteria that may affect the overall health of the tree
• To train a central leader
• To thin the crown of a tree to allow for air movement
• To raise the crown of a tree to allow clearance from sidewalks or streets

When to Prune

• Newly planted trees should not be pruned within the first two growing seasons except to remove dead or damaged branches
• Coniferous trees may be pruned any time of year, but sap flow will be minimized during the dormant season
• Non-flowering deciduous (shade) trees should be pruned when they are dormant (winter in Minnesota)
• Early spring bloomers (redbud, magnolia and others) should be pruned immediately following flowering in the spring to maximize their blooming capacity
• Crabapples, apples, plums and other fruit trees should be pruned in the dormant season just after the coldest weather has passed
• Dead or broken branches can be removed at any time of year

Check in with us on Thursday, Jan 31 to learn how to prune.

Read Part 2 here.

What We're Thankful For

Tree Trust has a lot to be thankful for this year and in the spirit of Thanksgiving we would like to reflect on some of the things that make us thankful for being a part of this great organization.

• We had five successful Learning with Trees events this year. Besides the events being fun, it also gives us an opportunity to see budding environmental stewards as children help to improve the landscape at their schools by planting trees!

• With the help of volunteers we recently planted trees in North Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, and Fridley. Volunteer participation allows us to have these events, and also gives people an opportunity to work alongside their neighbors while bettering their community.

• In September we snagged some media attention when we teamed up with Jason Mraz, KS95, and Reverb for a planting event. The publicity was great and only helps to raise awareness of the importance of our work.

• Last but not least on our list of things that we're thankful for this fall, we are thankful for being one of four finalists for the Toro Grant Initiative "Green Spaces Make Better Places," which makes us eligible to win a $7,000 grant. You can help us win that grant by voting here.

Before you go out shopping on Black Friday remember that dedicating a Green Futures tree to someone makes a great Christmas gift! We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

Participate in Give to the Max Day!

Give to the Max Day is on Thursday, November 15. Consider making a contribution to support Tree Trust's employment training, community forestry, and environmental education programs this year.

Give to the Max is a great way to see the impact that your gift can have when it's joined with the gifts made by thousands of other people on the same day. Learn more about Give to the Max Day and make a contribution to Tree Trust or another great nonprofit on November 15. 

October's Learning with Trees

October has been a busy and successful month for the Tree Trust Learning with Trees program. Our first event at Orono Intermediate School on October 17 was in partnership with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Orono Intermediate, and the Beim Foundation. Students, teachers, and volunteers planted 13 trees and 14 shrubs for a Minnesota Tree Identification walk at a short nature trail near the school.
 

The area where trees were planted is called Listening Point and is managed in conjunction with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. There were a variety of trees and shrubs planted at Listening Point including Bur Oak, Red Twig Dogwoods, Basswood and Hackberry. Each tree received an identification plaque mounted in the ground for interpretive purposes. The program was made possible by funding from the Beim Foundation.

The second event at Prairie Seeds Academy in Brooklyn Park on October 26. The program was funded by CenterPoint Energy, which also provided volunteer and technical support.

Prairie Seeds Academy acquired a new school building and grounds about two years ago. There is a small woodlot on the school property that had potential as an outdoor learning area. Some trails had already been created through this woodlot but there was room for improvement. Ten benches were installed in a circle in the woodlot to act as an outdoor classroom. Twelve trees and 14 shrubs representing several native Minnesota tree species were planted by Prairie Seeds students and now line the trails to create a Minnesota Arboretum Walk.

Many thanks to the CenterPoint Energy, the Beim Foundation, students, teachers, and volunteers who made these events a success!

E-Cycling for Schools

OceanTech, an organization dedicated to providing environmentally responsible electronics recycling, is offering its 3^rd Annual Educators’ E-cycling Initiative until November 1, 2012. Tree Trust will receive a one cent donation from OceanTech for every pound of e-waste that it collects from schools.

OceanTech is improving our Twin Cities environment through recycling and responsibly disposing of e-waste, preventing harmful chemicals from leaching into groundwater, air, and soil. They will help to improve our environment further by contributing to the Green Futures fund, which supports community tree planting events in Twin Cities parks and recreation areas.

So far this year, they have collected 95,532 pounds of e-waste! That's $955.32 that they will contribute to planting trees through the Tree Trust Green Futures fund. Can you help us increase that number? Speak to your school, you child's school, or a school in your neighborhood and find out if they have some old, unused electronics that need to be disposed of properly.

There are nine days left for your school to participate, so what are you waiting for? Learn more about OceanTech from their website, or call Josh Heath from OceanTech at 612-331-4456 or email him for more information.

Volunteer this fall!

Have you ever volunteered with Tree Trust? Would you like to? We are looking for volunteers to help plant trees as part of our annual GreenFutures plantings. The first will be on Saturday, October 6 in Eden Prairie at Forest Hills Park and the second will be in Fridley on Saturday, October 13 at the Springbrook Nature Center. 

Tree Trust staff and Tree Trainers train volunteers on-site on the proper method of planting a tree so no experience is necessary - just be willing to learn, have fun and enjoy the outdoors! Plantings are family-friendly, so feel free to bring your kids  as long as they are well-supervised. Check out the volunteer page of our website to learn more and sign up!

Are you interested in becoming a Tree Trainer? Tree Trainers learn how to lead other volunteers and students in planting trees properly at Green Futures and Learning with Trees plantings. Tree Trainers have to attend a training and volunteer at two events per year. We just happen to have a Tree Trainer Training this Saturday, September 29 with a few openings left. Sign up here!

Green Futures gives volunteers a chance to actively participate in improving our local environment. In addition, individuals can support the program through contributions to the Green Futures Fund. Nearly $50,000 has been donated to Green Futures since 2008 and each dollar donated by individuals is matched by a local family foundation.

Each $150 in the fund plants another tree for a total of over 720 trees planted in the Twin Cities to date! Trees planted through Green Futures are six- to ten-feet tall well-established trees which have a much greater chance of survival than seedlings.

Please consider joining us for an event this fall. Volunteering with Tree Trust is a great, hands-on way to give back to the community!

Prepare Your Trees for Winter

Wondering how to care for your trees once the cold weather sets in? Get started this weekend with a few tips from Tree Trust's Community Forestry Manager, Karen Zumach.  

Water, water, water! We’re in a drought and large trees need our assistance. Don’t forget your boulevard trees, they need water too! Over the next few weeks, placing your hose on a slow trickle around the dripline of your tree for 30-60 minutes will go a long way to helping your tree survive the drought. Increasing the soil moisture is the name of the game, keep your hose on a low flow to decrease the possibility of run off.

Rake. If you have spots on your leaves from fungus or other nefarious leaf issues, it’s important to rake them up and get them out. Fungus and bacteria can survive in the soil through the winter and reinfect your tree/shrub in the spring. 

Protect. Most ornamentals are quite delicious to our furry friends, so be sure to create some sort of exclusion area, either with chicken wire or plastic tubing around the trunk (be careful if you’re using chicken wire, you don’t want to knick the bark!). If you have thin-skinned, young trees like maple or basswood, wrap them before the snow flies to protect the tree from sun scald.

Plant. Fall is a great time to plant for two reasons: the weather is perfect and you can’t beat the sales at the garden centers. Stay local if you can. You don’t want to buy a tree from a big box store because chances are good that it’s spent a large portion of its life living somewhere much warmer than here meaning it won’t be acclimated to our chilly winters. Make sure you plant your tree the right way!

The cool autumn weather is a great time to do yard work. Take advantage of the great weather and care for your trees before the snow flies!

 

Jason Mraz and Tree Trust

Jason Mraz has a show at the Target Center in Minneapolis this Sunday, September 16. Mraz is a great supporter of environmental causes and he plans to plant trees with Tree Trust on Sunday morning. This effort is the result of a partnership between Mraz, Tree Trust, Reverb, and KS95.

Some lucky fans will have a chance to join Mraz and Tree Trust in the planting event and win free tickets to the concert through a contest on KS95. Contest winners were selected yesterday.

The Tree is A Four Letter Word campaign launched as part of the 2012 Jason Mraz North American tour. It supports local environmental organizations and aims to engage and inspire fans to take action.

Tree Trust will also be at the concert on Sunday with an informational table in the "eco-village." We will be selling stickers, the proceeds of which will benefit our programs! Feel free to stop by prior to the concert for information about our programs and to purchase a sticker.

End of Summer at Tree Trust

Though the summer isn't technically over yet, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the season for most Minnesotans. At Tree Trust, our summer season ends in August with the completion of the Summer Youth Employment Program, the summer cohort of the Young Adult Conservation Corps, and the YouthBuild advanced crew. All of the youth employment training programs work with youth in the summer months, and some work with youth year-round.

Summer is a busy time of year for our youth programs. Youth who are not in school for the summer have more time on their hands and greater need of guidance and positive activities than they do during the school year. Every summer for the past 36 years, Tree Trust has been here to provide youth with work experience, educational enrichment, and a paycheck for their summer work experience. 

So while most Minnesotans have been out enjoying the summer, Tree Trust staff have been here helping our participants find positive direction. Now that summer is closing and many of our youth participants have returned to school, we take a little time to catch our breath before we hit the ground running with fall forestry events, new crews of YouthBuild and Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) youth, and just generally preparing for the upcoming 2013 year.

By October, we’ll have nearly 50 youth participating with YouthBuild and YACC crews and Community Forestry has a busy autumn with Green Futures and Learning with Trees plantings. Thanks to all who have provided funding for Green Futures plantings this year – and especially to our anonymous donor who matches all of these contributions. 

Public plantings will be held in parks in Eden Prairie and Fridley in early October. Learning with Trees projects at schools in Orono and Brooklyn Park are being funded by CenterPoint Energy and Beim Foundation. We will also work with Wells Fargo and their volunteer team and a generous anonymous donor to plant more trees in selected parts of tornado-damaged North Minneapolis.

Tree Trust had a busy summer working with over 600 youth, and the break between seasons is short as we shift gears and move into our fall projects starting... now.