What is lion tailing?

What is lion tailing?

Unfortunately, many people misunderstand crown thinning and subscribe to the practice of only removing branches from the interior of the crown. This is often referred to as lion-tailing, over-lifting, over-thinning, or lacing out,  cleaning out. It results in the excessive removal of tree branches and foliage and fails to address what is often needed the most, branch end-weight reduction, because it requires more time and expertise to effectively accomplish. You may think you are getting a great deal by having so much foliage taken from the tree at one time when it is really just a shortcut taken by un-trained tree workers who don’t understand the science and art of tree pruning. The damage is usually irreversible. Instead of paying someone to enhance the value of your property, you are paying to have it diminished for the following reasons:

• Reduces reserves and food generating capacity
• Exposes scaffold branches to sun burn damage
• Higher future maintenance costs
• Reduces longevity
• Accelerates branch elongation which increases likelihood of branch failure
• Reduces resistance against pathogens and environmental stresses
• Reduces aesthetic value of landscape

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