Stripping a tree's inner branches so only a tuft of foliage remains at the ends might look tidy, but it makes the tree more likely to break in a storm.
This practice, known as lion's tailing, shifts the weight and wind load out to the branch tips. Without interior foliage to dampen movement, limbs whip harder in high winds, and the tree often responds with weak, fast-growing sprouts along the bare limbs.
ANSI A300 pruning standards, which guide every cut our crews make, direct pruners to remove only what's needed and to keep foliage distributed along each limb. That balance is what helps a tree flex through a storm instead of snapping. It also keeps the tree producing the energy it needs to stay healthy.
If a tree on your Mary Esther or Shalimar property was thinned heavily in the past, it isn't a lost cause. With a few seasons of corrective pruning, many trees can rebuild a healthier, more wind-firm structure.
#TreePruning #ANSIA300 #HurricanePrep #FortWaltonBeach #TreeCare
A side-by-side of a lion-tailed tree (bare interior limbs, foliage only at the tips) and a properly pruned tree with foliage distributed along each limb. Authentic photos from local jobs are ideal; a crew member making a correct pruning cut is a good alternative.
Canva text suggestion: "Thinned Too Much? Lion's Tailing Weakens Trees" or "Balanced Pruning Helps Trees Flex in Storms"