What are some solutions for trimming tree branches?
Mature trees, deciduous – the kind that drop their leaves on a yearly basis (maple, oak, ash, etc) – one selects the longest and most fragile of limbs for removal first – those that have cracks, open rotting ‘sores’ or a good deal of dead secondary and tertiary branches – this is signaling that that branch is in trouble. Those are removed first. Then one goes back in to remove dead wood – usually dead secondary and tertiary branches/stems. Then one proceeds to shape and thin the the remainder to balance the tree, open it up so wind can pass through more easily, or just to allow more sunlight to hit closer to the main branches/trunk to promote new growth that will later form a decent chunk of the main canopy. Pine/fir varieties one aims to remove dead wood (dead branches) then one usually trims off the lowest branches. Pines and other evergreen softwood trees tend to drop damaged and dead branches more easily than hardwood deciduous trees. Saplings (trees around age 5-10) are often shap
