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Edited by Ali Lijee Edited by Ali LijeeTree surgeons and arborists in the UK can assist you with retrenchment pruning and many other tree care services found here on TreeMend.
Did you know that trees can live hundreds of years, sometimes even thousands? Some scientists even believe that trees can theoretically live forever, but disease and decay often interfere with the tree’s health and shorten its lifespan. As trees age and succumb to illness or infection, they readjust their crowns and can even thicken out at the trunk to account for their end.
Table of contents
- What is retrenchment pruning?
- Why is retrenchment pruning needed?
- The retrenchment pruning process
- Professional retrenchment pruning vs DIY: how to decide
- How to get retrenchment pruning near you
- Retrenchment pruning in the UK: frequently asked questions
- Get a retrenchment pruning quote today
What is retrenchment pruning?
Retrenchment pruning is a method of tree pruning which aims to reconfigure the crown of a mature tree to be more in line with the tree’s natural ageing process. As trees age, their crown tends to shrink and go lower, providing more nutrients to lower branches. This means that the upper crown area tends to begin to decline, which can in turn lead to equilibrium issues and risks of structural failure.
It is specifically a type of crown reduction that is used for veteran or mature trees. The goal of retrenchment pruning is to mimic the ageing process of the tree and to help it encourage natural growth in the lower branches by pruning selectively, whilst reducing overall weight and pruning away excessively heavy and long limbs and removing deadwood. The overall goal is to promote robust physiological function in the tree as it ages, and outward growth is no longer the impetus of the tree crown.
As with all forms of tree pruning, retrenchment pruning is not needed for most trees in the UK, but those that do may stand to benefit immensely from it. Tree surgeons will generally require multiple sessions over multiple years to gradually reduce the crown to the desired shape and weight.
What is retrenchment?
Retrenchment is a natural process that ageing trees go through. To ‘retrench’ is to confine or restrict, or in arboriculture, it can be defined as paring away or cutting off. Some of these definitions lean more towards human interference with tree surgery, but the natural inclination of an ageing tree is to reconfigure its crown down lower, limit or cut off sugars travelling to the tips of long limbs, and to gradually diminish the overall size of the crown.
If retrenchment is a natural process, why bother with retrenchment pruning at all? This is a matter of considerable debate amongst arboricultural professionals today, with many praising it and many claiming that it isn’t needed, or worse, that it could accelerate the death of a tree.
In essence, retrenchment pruning can be a fairly drastic measure. It is, however, preferable to letting a tree die too soon, and it gives the tree a “death with dignity.” Moreover, retrenchment pruning - even if drastic - is preferable to extreme measures like tree topping or tree felling. It’s also always important to prune away branches that could pose a hazard to people or property underneath.
Why is retrenchment pruning needed?
Retrenchment pruning may be needed for some mature trees if a tree surgeon or arborist believes that it will benefit the tree and improve overall safety. Here are a few key reasons why it may be needed:
- Structural stability of the tree: old trees may start to lean or bear too much crown weight for them to continue bearing, so pruning away the upper crown area and reducing its weight can help it regain equilibrium.
- Preferable alternative to tree removal: tree felling and removal should always be a last resort option, so alternatives such as retrenchment pruning, although drastic, may be preferred.
- Encourages healthy new growth: as with all pruning, a direct goal of the tree surgeon is to prune away branches and encourage new growth, especially in the lower part of the canopy.
- Improves the tree’s appearance: old trees can begin to lose foliage and have visibly large portions of deadwood, diseased, or decayed wood. Retrenchment pruning can greatly enhance the visual appeal of older trees.
Benefits of retrenchment pruning
There are several possible benefits to retrenchment pruning, including:
- Gives dying trees a dignified death: diseased or dying trees which are not practical to save can be given a more dignified death by pruning back unsightly branches and making it look venerable in its old age.
- Improved safety: the process of retrenchment pruning helps the tree retain its equilibrium as it ages, which can greatly reduce risks of structural failure and consequent harm or damage to people or property underneath.
- Can prolong the tree’s lifespan: with careful, selective pruning performed routinely, old trees may continue to live on for many more years to come.
Retrenchment pruning can delay the early death of old trees, give them a dignified death, and improve safety
The retrenchment pruning process
When we refer to retrenchment pruning, we are referring to methods of manual intervention which require tree surgery. Caring for old trees can be complex, and there are often many non-tree surgery methods for regeneration as trees begin to decline.
Non-tree surgery regenerative tree care methods
Some methods of facilitating the reconfiguration of mature trees don’t require any direct pruning at all to the tree. Alternatives may include:
- Feeding the tree with nutrient-rich mulch around (but not directly on) the base of the trunk and outwards.
- Loosening and treating the soil.
- Reducing intensive use around the root system, such as preventing vehicles or pedestrians from passing over and compacting the soil excessively.
- Decreasing shade and maximising sunlight by pruning away any competitor trees nearby.
Tree surgery methods
More direct methods of retrenchment pruning follow the same principles as crown reduction, but with the specific purpose of gradually shrinking and lowering the tree’s crown. Here are some of the routine types of pruning that a tree surgeon may perform:
- Selectively pruning upper and exterior crown branches to gradually lower the canopy.
- Pruning lower branches in order to facilitate and encourage new, vigorous growth there.
- Reducing weight by pruning excessively heavy branches and removing deadwood.
- Reducing size by selectively pruning exterior and interior branches.
- Maintaining equilibrium and scale by routinely pruning until the desired and natural shape begins to take form.
While the UK does not have specific guidance on tree retrenchment pruning, German standards are much more specific and can be used as a reasonable standard for tree surgeons in the UK. In Germany, depending on the tree’s size and species, retrenchment pruning should lead to a crown reduction of less than 20% at a maximum. The process should be repeated every 3-5 years.
Retrenchment pruning is a highly specialised form of pruning for mature trees
Professional retrenchment pruning vs DIY: how to decide
Tree pruning is something that’s often best left to the experts, but homeowners can get their green thumbs exercised a little by pruning small trees and hedges so long as they’re doing it safely and without pruning too much at once. Just keep in mind that a botched job will require restoration pruning, which might cost more and take longer to achieve than if you just left the tree alone.
Retrenchment pruning, on the other hand, is a specialised form of pruning that is almost exclusively used for veteran trees and requires selective pruning of the upper branches, so you’ll need equipment to climb the tree and knowledge of pruning cuts to preserve the tree’s health and not to leave dangerous wounds.
For these reasons, retrenchment pruning should always be carried out by a skilled, experienced tree surgeon or arborist near you in the UK. Use TreeMend to get in touch with local tree surgeons who can provide retrenchment pruning for your veteran tree.
Always leave the task of retrenchment pruning to qualified tree surgeons and arborists
How to get retrenchment pruning near you
Just about all tree surgeons in the UK provide tree pruning services as well as crown reduction, since these are amongst the most commonly requested tree surgery services and the most in demand by homeowners and property owners.
Not all have the expertise to carry out retrenchment pruning, however, as it’s a fairly rare type of crown reduction. One way to get in touch with local, independent tree surgeons and arborists near you who can provide specialised tree care services, including retrenchment pruning, is to start using TreeMend.
Get no-obligation quotes for retrenchment pruning near you by using TreeMend
Retrenchment pruning in the UK: frequently asked questions
How much to take off when pruning?
Pruning should always aim to take off less rather than more, all other things held equal. In total, around 10-20% of the canopy should be removed in one year at a maximum. Pruning which removes more than 20% is generally seen as drastic and should only be done if absolutely necessary.
How long does pruning take?
Tree pruning can take less than an hour to a whole day, depending on the size of the tree and accessibility. Retrenchment pruning, however, tends to take longer and requires routine sessions (roughly every 3-5 years) since it is much more selective in which branches should be pruned and tends to focus on pruning upper and exterior areas of the crown.
When should I stop pruning?
Depending on the tree’s species and whether it’s deciduous or evergreen, the ideal time to stop pruning will vary. Generally, many common deciduous tree species tend to benefit from pruning just before or during the early spring months when regrowth and flowering will come.
Is pruning good or bad?
Pruning can be good or bad depending on how it’s done. Trees which do require pruning (not all do) stand to benefit as deadwood and diseased or decayed wood can be removed and new growth can be encouraged. Poor pruning is bad for the tree as it can lead to excessively large wounds, which can in turn attract pests and diseases, weaken the tree structurally, or even kill the tree.
What is the best reason for pruning?
The best reason for pruning is to encourage healthy new growth in the tree’s crown whilst simultaneously eliminating dead, diseased, or decayed wood which may endanger the tree’s health. In addition to improving the tree’s health, pruning is also sometimes essential for safety reasons.
What is maintenance pruning?
Maintenance pruning is a type of tree pruning that is ongoing and may be needed every year or every few years, depending on various factors and the desired effect. Many common forms of crown reduction require maintenance pruning, since it’s always better to remove less material than removing too much and leaving wounds that cannot properly heal.
What is renovation pruning?
Renovation pruning is a type of hard pruning which may be needed for old growth that has accumulated on neglected or overgrown trees. Renovation pruning seeks to gradually reduce that growth, eliminate clutter, and encourage healthy new growth.
Is restoration pruning the same as retrenchment pruning?
No. Restoration pruning is often needed to restore a tree’s proper crown after a botched pruning job, if it’s been pruned excessively, or if the tree has been damaged by physical impact (e.g. vehicle or storm). Retrenchment pruning is concerned with mimicking the natural lowering and downward growth of the tree’s crown as it ages.
Why is retrenchment pruning considered a drastic measure?
Retrenchment pruning is frequently seen as a drastic measure by many arboricultural professionals in the UK and one that has attracted notable criticism. Some consider it drastic because in practice, tree surgeons often need to remove 30-40% of the live crown, which is excessive. Moreover, it’s doing something which the tree will gradually do naturally anyway.
Is retrenchment pruning the same as tree topping?
No. Retrenchment pruning is the selective pruning of a veteran tree’s crown to mimic natural downward growth, whereas tree topping is a harsh and reckless manner of pruning the top-most parts of the crown and often the trunk itself. Tree topping is no longer commonplace in the arboricultural industry and is seen as outdated and dangerous for tree health.
Get a retrenchment pruning quote today
Caring for an old tree can be challenging, but you may wish to see it spend its remaining years with dignity and looking its very best. Retrenchment pruning might be appropriate for your mature tree, and the best way to find a tree surgeon or arborist in the UK to provide this valuable service is through TreeMend. Use our platform today to receive no-obligation quotes for retrenchment pruning and a wide range of other tree care services.