Preventing wind damage to trees through pruning practices

Extension agent Laura Rose introduced me to Michael Murphy several years ago. Michael, a certified arborist, spent twenty years working in Beaufort. Sadly, working in that lovely location meant having extensive knowledge of the effects of hurricanes on trees. Recently, he shared with me new findings from research done by the renowned University of Florida tree expert Edward Gilman. Collaborating with a colleague with has a portable wind tunnel, they gave twenty cloned live oaks different pruning practices. The results showed that the previously accepted technique of clearing the small branches and suckers from the interior of the tree in the belief that they acted as a sail that caught the wind causing the tree to be blown more severely was incorrect. The new accepted standard is called the natural pruning system and promotes trees less susceptible to wind damage.