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, updated in 2019, provides reasons why pruning should be undertaken, explains pruning types, provides background on pruning cuts, reviews sample pruning specifications, and comments on the timing and necessity of these operations.

Chapters in this BMP include:

Pruning Systems.
Pruning Objectives.
Pruning Cuts.
Pruning Practices.
Poor Pruning Practices.
Pruning Conifers, Palms, and Bamboo.
Pruning Specifications.
Glossary.