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Chapter 12—Developing a Preventative Pruning Program: Young Trees1

Edward F. Gilman and Amanda Bisson 2

Abstract

Trees growing in urban and suburban landscapes offer many benefits to the community. However, when a tree or part of a tree breaks, it can cause extensive damage to people and /or property. A preventive pruning program is an important tool used to help mitigate the risks from tree defects. Preventive pruning helps to promote good structure, making trees more resistant to storms and other natural forces. This fact sheet describes the components of preventative structural pruning, discusses how to determine pruning objectives, the pruning cycle and, lastly, proposes how to implement a preventative pruning plan for young trees in your community.

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Footnotes

1. This document is ENH 1062, one of the Urban Forest Hurricane Recovery Program series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation and the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 2007. Reviewed February 2017. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu and http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/treesandhurricanes.
2. Edward F. Gilman, professor; and Amanda Bisson, doctor in plant health; Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Publication #ENH1062

Release Date:February 21, 2017

Related Experts

Gilman, Edward F.

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

    Fact Sheet

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    • Andrew Koeser
    • Michael Andreu
    • Ryan Klein