Directional pruning:
- Removes branches growing toward the power lines while leaving those that are growing away
- Is the most appropriate pruning method for utility line clearance
How will a tree look after it is directionally pruned?
- Trees growing directly under power lines may appear U or V-shaped (crown reduction or throughpruning)
- Trees growing alongside power lines may appear L- shaped, or one side may be completely removed (side pruning)
- The tree may often appear misshapen but this pruning is being performed to provide for safety and service reliability, not for aesthetic purposes
- Trees growing near the power lines will never have the potential to grow with a “natural” shape
Do Not Top Trees! Also called ‘roundingover’. It involves cutting branches to stubs or lateral points that are not large enough to grow successfully.
- This is not directional pruning
- Not an acceptable pruning practice
It can:
- Severely weaken the tree
- Kill some species