TREE PRUNING SPECIFICATIONS Sample Clauses

TREE PRUNING SPECIFICATIONS. The purpose of pruning is to prune to manage tree health, develop/improve structure, mitigate risk, provide clearance and improve aesthetics. All pruning shall be performed in accordance with the latest revision of the ANSI A300 and Z133.1 standards, and the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Pruning Best Management Practices. Unacceptable trimming practices include peeling or tearing of the bark, topping or pollarding, lion’s tailing, rounding-over or shearing. Extreme care shall be taken so as to prevent limbs and branches from falling and creating damage to adjacent homes, driveways, sidewalks, streets and other property, both public and private. The following specifications shall be followed: A. A natural pruning system shall be utilized. Live branches shall be removed to maintain the natural form and appearance of the tree. Mutilation and loss of characteristic shape of the tree is prohibited. i. Pruning activities should remove no more living material than is necessary to achieve the tree pruning objectives outlined in these specifications. B. Trees shall be pruned to remove all dead, diseased, broken, and crossing branches that are two (2) inches in diameter or larger. C. In raising lower branches for clearance, care should be given to symmetrical appearance and cuts shall not be made so large that it will prevent normal sap flow. Trim to allow for several years growth before smaller secondary and tertiary limbs will be below the required clearance height. Raise lower scaffold branches: i. For a minimum of ten (10) feet of clearance to the ground under the dripline from the curb to residence. ii. Raise lower scaffold branches for a minimum of fifteen (15) feet of clearance to the ground under the dripline over the street. NOTE: Make sure to leave the crown as balanced as possible. D. Trees shall be pruned to provide clear, unobstructed views of street signs, traffic signs, and traffic signals. E. When street tree limbs are in conflict with private trees or are overhanging structures, trees shall be pruned to provide clearance. F. Remove old stubs leaving the branch collar intact.