TREE PRUNING BOOKS
Below is a collection of my favorite books covering the topic of tree pruning. I reference most of these books regularly. Most are also a useful reference for studying for the ISA Certified Arborist or Board Certified Master Arborist exams.
An Illustrated Guide to Pruning, 3rd edition by Edward F. Gilman
The most in-depth and accessible resource in print covering tree pruning, this books is designed to help readers understand and apply the appropriate pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable structure in the first 25 years of a tree’s life. The book addresses many challenges associated with pruning, including disease prevention, root pruning, mature tree pruning, and restoration following storms.
The ABCs Field Guide to Young Tree Pruning by Andrew G. Pleninger and Christopher J. Luley
This edition from the Visual Identification Series by Urban Forestry LLC was created to simplify the pruning process for small and young trees. Designed for use in the field, an easy to learn and recall acronym-based methodology directs you where to start, what branches to prune, and when you are finished. It is intended for a wide range of users, from tree workers who may have little or no experience pruning trees, to professional arborists and landscapers.
Structural Pruning: A Guide for the Green Industry by Edward F. Gilman, Brian Kempf, Nelda Matheny and Jim Clark
This book will help tree professionals build on their knowledge and application of current industry standards, including the American National Standards Institute's ANSI A300(Part 1): Tree Pruning and ISA's Best Management Practices: Tree Pruning. It describes an approach to pruning that reduces risk by promoting a sound tree structure that resists failure, provides clearance, and improves aesthetics.
Best Management Practices - Tree Pruning, 2nd Edition by Edward Gilman and Sharon Lilly
ISA has developed a series of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the purpose of interpreting tree care standards and providing guidelines of practice for arborists, tree workers, and the people who employ their services. This BMP provides reasons why pruning is undertaken, explains pruning types and amounts, provides background on pruning cuts, reviews sample pruning specifications, and comments on timing of these operations.
ANSI A300 Pruning Standard - Part 1
The ANSI standards represent the industry criteria for performing tree care operations. The standards can be used for general familiarity with professional requirements, as well as for preparation of tree care contract specifications.
Best Management Practices - Utility Pruning of Trees by Geoffrey P. Kempter
This BMP describes current best practices in utility tree pruning based on scientific research and proven methodology for the safe and reliable delivery of utility services, while preventing unnecessary injury to trees to the greatest extent possible.