Pruning a tree takes a good deal more care and knowledge than most people think. It doesn't mean randomly hacking off limbs at the tops and sides to force the tree into a preferred size and shape. Such techniques, variously called "hatracking," "topping" and "lifting," can not only damage but can sometimes kill a tree, not to mention the fact that these techniques disfigure a tree's lovely, natural shape.

"Hatracking" and "topping" refer to a practice in which the canopy, or top of the tree, is removed, leaving vital, major branches chopped off with stubs exposed. "Hatracking" is a visually accurate term for this, as the practice creates what closely resembles an elaborate, many-pronged hat rack.

"Lifting" refers to the removal of a tree's lower branches. Done excessively, lifting can reduce the trunk's taper, increase the chances of branch breakage, and cause a tree to become top heavy and unnaturally shaped. Though it is sometimes necessary to change the shape of a tree, whether to clear limbs that are too close to power lines or which threaten the safety of a home or building, their removal must always be done with care.

In contrast to the methods described above, proper pruning benefits a tree: improving its health, controlling its growth, and enhancing its ability to bear fruit and flowers. Pruning is also necessary to remove weak, diseased or dead limbs, to remove crowded or rubbing limbs, and to eliminate hazards. One basic rule to follow is to never remove more than one-fourth of a tree's leaf-bearing crown. This is especially critical when pruning a mature tree.

With a bit of knowledge, you can do minor and/or maintenance-type pruning yourself. It is ideal to start pruning a tree when it is young, when you can literally "train" the tree to grow a certain way without causing it major damage. But pruning a tree for the first time after the tree is already mature can not only be difficult but it can also create the need for making large cuts, which a mature tree cannot close easily. If you do plan to prune a tree yourself, keep in mind that a tree doesn't "heal" like people do; it has to grow over and "compartmentalize" the wound, and an improper cut will be contained within the tree forever. So consider carefully before you pick up that saw!

This is why, for major pruning, especially of mature trees, we recommend seeking out a professional. When choosing a tree service or arborist (tree care professional) there are a few things you should seek. You get what you pay for, and it's often cheaper in the long run to hire a professional than to hire someone who is unqualified and can potentially do damage to both your trees and your property.

Here is what to look for, and what to look out for:

Confirm that the tree service you've chosen has an occupational license
Make sure they're a legitimate business (are they listed in the Yellow Pages?)
They should be insured for such things as worker's compensation, personal liability and property damage
They should be certified through the International Society of Arboriculture's Certified Arborist's program
They should have membership in a professional association, such as the National Arborist Association, the Florida Arborist Association, the International Society of Arboriculture or the American Society of Consulting Arborists
They should be able to provide you with a list of references
If the workers wear tree-climbing spikes on their shoes, stop them before they even step up to that first limb. Spiked shoes will wound the tree and should only be used by workers when the intent is to cut a tree down, not prune it
Likewise, go elsewhere if you see that a service advertises "topping" or "hatracking"

If any of these requirements are not filled, save yourself the headache of having to try to un-do mistakes made by someone who is either poorly trained or not trained at all.

A final note on the basic rule to follow when pruning a tree: don't force nature into an unnatural shape. It is best and truly most visually pleasing to allow a tree to grow as it naturally would, without forcing it to conform to the particularly structured or symmetrical shapes we would impose upon it. The most beautiful -- and healthiest -- trees are those that, with a bit of pruning and care, have been allowed to flourish as they please.