Rant: The difference a good pruning makes on a 30 year old maple

I had this silver maple in a backyard in Cleveland I've been watching for like 5 years. Owner never let anyone touch it because she thought pruning would kill it. Finally convinced her last spring to let me do a proper reduction cut job. Took off maybe 15% of the canopy, got rid of crossing branches and some deadwood. Six months later that tree looked totally different. The crown opened up, more light got through, and the leaves were bigger and greener. The owner called me last week saying the tree looks healthier than it has in a decade. Has anyone else seen a big turnaround on a neglected tree after just one good pruning? What was the worst shape a tree was in before you fixed it up?

4 comments

4 Comments

tylerj2228d ago

Got called out on the terminology at a workshop once and spent the next hour googling it while pretending to check my phone. Still mix up pruning terms half the time, but the trees seem to forgive me if the cuts are clean. Ever have one of those moments where you realize you've been calling something the wrong name for years?

tara79328d ago

Reduction cut" huh? That's actually a heading cut, not reduction.

elizabeths5127d ago

idk i feel like i saw a post somewhere that said heading cuts make the tree grow all bushy and wild if you keep doing them. @tylerj22 can probably relate since we all mess up the names sometimes but at least the tree is still alive.

michael_coleman1027d ago

Used to side with the owner until I saw that silver maple bounce back so fast.