1. Crown cleaning: All dead, broken, diseased, and detached branches one-inch in diameter and larger shall be removed to a sound, live branch union. When there are branches that are rubbing or which have the potential to begin rubbing upon each other within the next five years, one branch shall be removed or reduced to eliminate the conflict. Any stubs remaining from previous branch breakage larger than 1” diameter shall be removed to the point of origin. Water sprouts and sucker growth shall be removed from the base of the tree to the second branch union. 2. Crown thinning: Selectively remove live branches to reduce crown density. Branches to be thinned shall be ½” (half inch) diameter and greater. Thinning cuts shall remove crowded and low vigor branches. Thinning shall increase light penetration and air movement through the crown. Thinning shall also remove some waterspouts on the interior.
