Urban Forest Street Tree Pruning Program
All trees in the City, located in the public right-of-way, are pruned on a 1, 2, 3 or 5-year cycle. Because trees are unique in form and structure, each tree's species needs and locations are taken into consideration for the Urban Forest Tree Pruning Program. Immediately below are maps representative of Santa Monica's tree pruning program for fiscal years 2019-20 through 2024-25 (July 1 - June 30).
Urban Forest Tree Pruning Program - overview
FY19-20 Pruning Schedule
FY20-21 Pruning Schedule
FY21-22 Pruning Schedule
FY22-23 Pruning Schedule
FY23-24 Pruning Schedule
FY24-25 Pruning Schedule
Tree Pruning in City Parks
The City specifies the
following types of pruning techniques in accordance with the American National
Standard Institute (ANSI) A300 - American National Standard for Tree Care
Operations: Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Management – Standard Practices
(Pruning) 2017 and the associated International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices.
Crown
Cleaning
Crown cleaning involves
the removal of dead, dying, diseased, weakly attached, low vigor branches and
water sprouts. This pruning specification essentially removes non-beneficial
parts of a tree to manage health and risk.
Crown Raising
Crown raising involves the
removal of the lower branches of a tree in order to provide clearance for buildings,
vehicles, streetlights, traffic signs and pedestrians.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces
the height and/or spread of a tree and is commonly used to reduce stress within
a tree’s structure. Reduction cuts should be made at a lateral branch at least
one-third the diameter of the branch being removed. It is recommended that not
more than 25% of a tree’s live foliage is removed by a crown reduction.
Crown
Thinning
Crown thinning of a tree
canopy reduces the density of live branches or foliage. It is often use to
increase light penetration. Excessive crown thinning of all the inside lateral
branches of a tree is known as lions-tailing. This unacceptable
practice displaces the weight of the foliage to the end of the branch.
This often makes the tree susceptible to sun scald and limb failure as it
changes the structural integrity of the canopy.
Proper care and technique must be administered
with this practice.
Palm Pruning
Only dead, diseased or yellowing fronds, as
well as nuisance fruit/flowers, can be pruned off of a palm. Cuts shall be made as close to the trunk as
possible without cutting into live tissue.
Potential diseased trees must be treated and tools treated to prevent
the spread.
Climbing spurs are never to be used when
pruning any tree, especially palms.
Topping trees is also not permitted.
Reasons for pruning include mitigating risk,
improving or maintaining health, developing desired appearance, preventing
interference with infrastructure and other specific objectives. Specification must be administered by an
arborist. Safety must never be
compromised. Pruning systems and
objectives shall be practiced accordingly as each tree/plant/site varies.
REFERENCES AND MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE.