Why are parkway trees trimmed?
• To eliminate low limb interference with pedestrians, buses and trucks • To clear roadway signs and streetlights of obstructions • To remove hazardous deadwood • To reduce the effects of wind and ice on branch stability • To maintain the natural shape of the tree • To repair storm damage • To improve the overall health of the tree by reducing the opportunity for insects and disease infestation Why are the trees trimmed so high? Since parkway trees are in close proximity to streets and sidewalks, trees could be “raised” up to 16 feet to minimize damage to the trees from trucks and buses passing beneath them. Large snow plows, school buses and dump trucks can be over 12 feet tall. Why should young trees be pruned? A young tree whose branches do not yet extend over the street or sidewalk, must have the lower branches removed now to prevent a future hazard. It is best to remove the branches while the tree is young so that the wound created is smaller and heals quicker. Pruning helps to pr
