An Illustrated Guide to Pruning

I took a Master Gardening class this fall and during a class on pruning, our instructor from the University of Kentucky, suggested this was the best book to have as a learning tool and to have in our books, for knowledge, in case a pruning question should come about. This book is a reference book that is used around the world.

Many different ways to prune trees, as we all know. I believe this approach of structural pruning for trees of all sizes is the currently best way to go. They best reason businesses wise is you spend less time in the tree! Or, the best reason is you are working with the tree. In this idea of a pruning “dance” the tree leads and the tree workers follow. We all know that the opposite ofpruning trees to get them to do what we want has mixed results. For example the topped tree that is then not pruned for ten years and becomes almost unworkable.

Terrible quality. Pages were not cut properly and stuck together. The paper is low quality and the ink comes off on your fingers. The ink even comes off on other pages. Only a class textbook like this could be so overpriced and so poorly made.Thw book itself is more geared toward an arborist pruning street and park trees. There are maybe 20 examples how to prune trees away from a street and powerlines. Not one for how to prune away from your house.

Dr. Gilman is absolutely brilliant and though I am not exactly an arborist, I really enjoyed his courses and this text. My view of trees has forever changed after reading this. I am hyper aware of "tree abuse" and so is my husband. As a gardener and conservationist, I found this information to be highly practical. Great read and it is simple enough for anyone to understand (though the topics are sometime complex).

Most extensive book on pruning that has plenty of illustrations I have seen. Easily read and to follow. Excellent book for new students of horticulture with even quizzes at the end of each chapter. I have another book on trees by the Author. I refer to both quite often teaching my crew leaders in a landscaping maintenance business.

Wow! This is the finest book on the subject that I've seen so far, and I say that as a student in a Horticulture degree program. The illustrations are fantastic - so much better than learning from old black and white line work from photocopies or extension service documents that don't quite make the grade in the graphics department.

I purchased Dr. Gilman's textbook after helping prune several young trees with someone who had participated in Dr. Gilman's single-day pruning mini-course. There were a lot of removal cuts and reduction cuts to ensure strong leaders. The trees looked quite different after pruning, each with a single leader branch at the very top.This text teaches current concepts in pruning (there have been some changes in recent years) and is very heavy on detailed illustrations of what to do, what not, and why. It covers some alternative approaches, with emphasis on trees, from seedling to maturity. There's lots of information on how to produce quality trees in a nursery, then on how to continue their growth in their permanent homes, where they will develop their permanent canopies. Shortly after Gilman's textbook arrived, I had a 100-gallon oak tree installed in my yard, so I had seen his advice on "shaving" root balls to get rid of circling roots. The tree happened to have an excellent root ball and needed no more than five or ten minutes of clipping small circling roots. The cut root ends should produce lots of new roots, spreading outward from the trunk. The installer assured me that the grower was top-notch.There is useful advice on how to hire an arborist, how to prune palms and cycads, shrub pruning (including hedges) and how to prune roots during construction or road/walkway maintenance.Gilman's textbook should be extraordinarily useful for nursery growers and arborists. It could be very useful for landscapers and other people charged with maintaining and improving landscapes. In particular, the book should be useful for developing maintenance schedules and budgets, and selling those budgets to those who control the funds. Not to mention that the book can help prevent harm. It does wonders to develop one's eye for good and bad pruning. It's a good book to study if you're going to work a lot with an arborist, and want to understand what they can or should do. It will likely also be useful for questions about renewing hedges.This costly book is relevant to homeowners only if they have substantial yards with a several trees, or if they are investing in new trees or lots of shrubs and want to ensure the best results.

This book is for professionals and written for everyone interested in learning the right way of pruning in a easy way, step by step with plenty of pictures and drawings and detailed examples.

A clear, informative, stimulating and inspiring publication. An immense lead into tree inspection, understanding and practical support/intervention/aftercare. Superb! As a newcomer to the arboriculture industry this is ideal :)

GREAT BOOK

Ottimo testo per gli arboricoltori. Strutturato molto bene, anche per agevolare l'apprendimento grazie a schemi e tabelle riassuntive, e “password”. Di conseguenza un testo molto pratico per la grafica ben curata, immagini e disegni di qualità. Un testo consigliato sia ai neofiti che ai professionisti. Peccato che tali testi non vengano mai tradotti in italiano.

I work in the nursery industry and was looking for more information for my specific field. I had seen an earlier edition of this book and was looking to buy one for myself. I found this updated edition but contemplated buying it because of the price. Let me tell you, I was quite surprised. The earlier edition was black and white but this one uses color photos and illustrations. It also has a new chapter on root pruning. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who prunes backyard fruit trees to arborists.

One of the best detailed pruning quides

Great book! Really fantastic illustrations and pictures.

Very awesome book!

Fantastic illustration! Thorough and clear content! Very impressed!