Raising the crown - wrong branches removed

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The three to four inch diameter branches removed from the very bottom of the crown provided clearance. There was no reason to remove the small branches on the trunk above this point. Removing these simply causes more trunk dysfunction since all live branches help keep associated wood alive. Instead of pruning the secondary branches along the lower portion of the two or three largest limbs in the lower crown, the ends could have been reduced in length. This would have helped provide long-term clearance under the tree by exposing branches growing from the leader to more sunligh, thus encouraging growth higher in the tree. Shortening these upright-growing branches also would have slowed their growth which prepares the tree better for their eventual removal. Pruning in the manner shown here also induces the poor form associated with poorly-tapered, long limbs.

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Recently-raised oak tree	Close-up

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