COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GUIDELINE - SPGS

LAWLOG PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME
5.2 Pruning
Pruning is the removal of the lower branches from
timber trees mainly to improve on timber quality.
5.2.1 Why should I prune my
trees?
The main purpose is to increase timber quality (get knot
free timber boards) but also to improve accessibility for
other activities like thinning and controlling fires. Trees
grown for fuelwood are normally left to self prune.
height is. Then cut off the tree branches starting from
the bottom up to half of the tree height using a curved
pruning saw (not a panga or axe please). A clean cut
must be made as close to the tree stem as possible but
not to peel down the tree.
Note: all pruned branches must be piled in the middle
of tree lines and be 5m off any firebreak. Remember
use of ordinary ladders as is commonly done is unsafe
to both the tree and a person carrying out the work.
Any ladder used should be well designed to be firm on
the ground as well as on the tree.
You can also use a long pruning saw as shown on the
photo below.
PHOTO 25
Now as your well weeded trees continue growing faster because weeds are not
competing with them, a stage reaches when trees themselves start competing
especially for space and thus important operations of pruning and thinning should
be done.
A well pruned tree with nice cuts that will easily heal. Pruning
improves on the quality of timber.
5.2.2 How is pruning done?
Pruning is done systematically line per line till the
whole plantation is covered. Before starting to prune a
tree, first stand at a distance where you can see its top
crown. Next judge the point where half of the crown
5.2 Pruning PHOTO 25
Now as your well weeded trees continue growing faster because weeds are not
Pruning
competing
is the removal
with
of
them,
the
a
lower
stage
branches
reaches
from
when
timber
trees themselves
trees mainly
start
to improve
competing
on
timber quality. especially for space and thus important operations of pruning and thinning should
be done.
5.2.1 Why should I prune my trees?
The main purpose is to increase timber quality (get knot free timber boards) but
5.2 Pruning
also to improve accessibility for other activities like thinning and controlling fires.
Pruning is the removal of the lower branches from timber trees mainly to improve on
timber quality. Trees grown for fuelwood are normally left to self prune.
PHOTO 5.2.1 Why 26 should I prune my trees?
When
5.2.2 The main tree
How purpose branches
is pruning is to become increase done?
too timber long quality to reach (get knot while free standing, timber boards) use a but long
also
Pruning pole to to improve
is cut done branches. accessibility
systematically Climbing for other activities
line per on line a tree like
till the using thinning
whole a ladder and controlling
plantation is dangerous fires.
is covered.
Trees grown for fuelwood are normally left to self prune.
Before starting to prune a tree, first stand at a distance where you can see its top
crown. PHOTO Next 26 judge the point where half of the crown height is. Then cut off the
tree 5.2.2 branches How is starting pruning from done? the bottom up to half of the tree height using a curved
Refer
pruning Pruning to
saw is done SPGS
(not systematically a panga
Pruning
or axe line please). per Guideline A clean till the cut whole must
No.
be plantation made
27
as close is for covered. to
more
the
Before starting to prune a tree, first stand at a distance where you can see its top
details. tree stem as possible but not to peel down the tree.
crown. Next judge the point where half of the crown height is. Then cut off the
tree branches starting from the bottom up to half of the tree height using a curved
PHOTO pruning saw 27 (not a panga or / axe please). PHOTO A clean 28 cut must be made as close to the
tree stem as possible but not to peel down the tree.
Table 6 below guides on how and when to prune pine trees.
PHOTO 27 / PHOTO 28
Pruning Table type Age Prune to Purpose Method to cut
1 st 6 below guides on how and when to prune pine trees.
(Access) 3-4 2m Open access While standing on ground
Pruning 2 nd type 6-7 Age 4m Prune to Purpose Knot-free timber Method Use extendable to cut pole
31 rd st (Access) 9-10 3-4 7m 2m Maximise Open access log Use While extendable standing on pole* ground
2 nd 6-7 4m Knot-free timber Use extendable pole
quality
3
4 th rd 9-10 7m Maximise log Use extendable pole*
12- 10m Maximise quality log Use extendable pole*
4 th 12- 13 10m Maximise quality log Use extendable pole*
13
quality
Note: all pruned branches must be piled in the middle of tree lines and be 5m off
any
Note:
firebreak.
all pruned
*Remember
branches must
use of
be
ordinary
piled in
ladders
the middle
as is
of
commonly
tree lines
done
and be
is
5m
unsafe
off
any firebreak. *Remember use of ordinary ladders as is commonly done is unsafe
to to both both the the tree tree and and a person person carrying carrying out out the the work. work. Any Any ladder ladder used used should should be be
well designed to be firm on the ground as well as on the tree.
PHOTO 29
Refer to SPGS Pruning Guideline No. 27 for more details.
NB1. Timing depends on growth rate of trees not the age.
NB1.
NB2.
Timing
Pruning
depends
will have
on
to
growth
be done
rate
much
of trees
earlier
not
with
the age.
Eucalypts grown for timber.
NB2. Pruning will have to be done much earlier with Eucalypts grown for timber.
NB1. Timing depends on growth rate of trees not
the age.
An example of bad cuts while pruning. Long
branches left on the stem will later dry and
form dead knots. These knots can come out
leaving holes on timber surface
NB2. Pruning will have to be done much earlier 23
with Eucalypts grown for timber.
21
Community Tree Planting Guideline
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