08/15/2026
WHEN “PRUNING” ACTUALLY MAKES A TREE WORSE 🌳
Take a close look at this tree.
At first glance, someone might say, “Looks great. They opened it up, cleaned it out, and let the wind pass through.”
That is exactly the problem.
This is a good example of why tree pruning should be based on arboricultural objectives—not simply what looks good from the ground.
The tree shows characteristics consistent with lion-tailing and excessive interior crown removal: significant foliage and smaller branches have been removed from the interior portions of major limbs, while much of the remaining foliage is concentrated toward the ends of the branches.
That is NOT proper structural pruning.
WHY THIS MATTERS
🌳 Trees need foliage throughout the crown.
Leaves are the tree’s solar panels. Removing excessive live growth reduces the tree’s ability to photosynthesize and produce the carbohydrates it needs for growth, defense, and recovery.
🌳 Interior branches aren’t automatically “bad branches.”
Removing everything inside the canopy simply because it looks crowded can destroy the tree’s natural architecture and future structure.
🌳 Lion-tailing can create physiological stress.
Excessive interior removal exposes previously shaded limbs and bark to greater heat and sunlight while leaving foliage concentrated at branch ends.
🌳 It can create a poorly balanced crown.
The goal isn’t simply to make a tree “airy.” Proper pruning considers branch distribution, end weight, structure, species characteristics, site conditions, and the tree’s response to pruning.
🌳 More cuts do NOT equal better pruning.
A professional arborist should be able to explain why each category of pruning is being performed and what objective it is intended to accomplish.
The International Society of Arboriculture’s Best Management Practices are specifically designed to interpret the ANSI A300 tree-care standards and guide professional pruning practices. Current ANSI A300 standards emphasize objective-based specifications rather than simply removing branches until a tree “looks clean.” (ISA Arbor)
And this isn’t just theory. Arboricultural research has specifically identified lion-tailing as an improper pruning practice and documented its negative physiological effects. (Isa Arbor)
THE DIFFERENCE IS KNOWLEDGE.
Anyone with a chainsaw can remove branches.
A qualified tree professional understands which branches to remove, which branches to leave, how much live crown can be removed, where the cuts should be made, and—most importantly—WHY.
At 2 Daughters Landscaping & Tree Service, we don’t prune trees just to make them look “clean.”
We prune with the long-term health, structure, safety, and function of the tree in mind.
Good tree work shouldn’t just make a tree look different when we leave. It should make the tree better.
If you’re managing a residential property, condo community, HOA, or commercial landscape and you’re unsure whether your trees are being properly maintained, we’d be happy to take a look.
🌳 2 Daughters Landscaping & Tree Service
Professional tree care. Proper pruning. Long-term results.
Don’t hire someone just because they own a chainsaw. Hire someone who understands trees.
