Best Management Practices – Tree Pruning, Second Edition

ISA has developed a series of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the purpose of interpreting tree care standards and providing guidelines of practice for arborists, tree workers, and the people who employ their services.This BMP provides reasons why pruning is undertaken, explains pruning types and amounts, provides background on pruning cuts, reviews sample pruning specifications, and comments on timing of these operations. It also serves as a companion publication for the American National Standard for Tree Care Operations—Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Management—Standard Practices (Pruning).

Topics in this BMP include:

• Pruning Objectives
• Pruning Methods (Types)
• Branch Attachment
• Pruning Cuts
• How Much to Prune
• When to Prune
• Pruning Tools
• Pruning Specifications
• Glossary of Terms