Visited an old arboretum in Ohio and it changed how I prune

I stopped by the Holden Arboretum near Cleveland last month just to kill a Sunday. Saw a guy working on a mature oak, and he was leaving way more lower branches than I ever would have. He told me trees in open settings need that extra taper for wind resistance and long term stability. Now I'm second guessing every crown raise I've done on residential oaks. Anybody else rethink their cuts after seeing pro work on big specimens?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot_king1mo ago

Ever see those old oaks at the Morton Arboretum? I started leaving more low branches on my own trees after that, feels way more solid now.

kelly3381mo ago

Arboretum trees grow in open fields, not cramped backyards. Residential pruning has to clear roofs and driveways, not just think about wind. Different settings need different rules.