Rogue Valley Fire Prevention

Planting, Pruning & Upkeep

Pruning trees and other vegetation is a good way to minimize ladder fuels and thereby reduce the chance of high-intensity crown fires occurring during a wildfire situation.  Here you will find basic pruning tips, as well as links to sites with advice on planting and vegetation upkeep.

Pruning Do's:

When pruning large branches--

  • Make a partial cut from beneath.

  • Make a second cut from above several inches out and allow the limb to fall.

  • Complete the job with a final cut just outside the branch collar.

Hardwood trees should be pruned during late winter or early spring, as the tree will be dormant during these times.  Conifer trees, on the other hand, can be pruned at any time other than early summer.

Your first choice in branches to be removed should be those that are dead.  The second priority should be branches in poor health or little green foilage. 

Next, remove branches that are damaged, diseased, or interfering with other branches.

Pruning Don'ts:

Do not cut branches flush with the tree trunk--this will lead to tree decay.  Never remove more than one-third of a tree's live crown.

Do not paint wound left by branch removal, as this can cause the pruning cut to seal slower.

The Oregon Department of Forestry website has pages dedicated to urban and community forestry, which involves the planting, care and management of the trees where people live.  For more information, click the link below:

Oregon Department of Forestry

The National Arbor Day Foundation has many comprehensive guides on tree planting and pruning, as well as a tree database and nation-wide "tree hardiness" guide.  To visit the site, click the link below:

National Arbor Day Foundation