Remember that really bad haircut you once got where you just wanted to go and hide until it grew out? The uneven sideburns, too much off the top that made it look like a bad crew cut (if that's even possible), or thinning out the Don Ho pompadour and ending up almost bald? NOT good memories!

With trees there's not much difference, but the end results can be far worse. You can prune way too much on one side, leaving it lopsided and unstable. You can take way too much off the top resulting in a tree that not only is ugly to look at, but susceptible to disease and possibly death. Or you can over-prune a tree to the point where there aren't enough leaves to produce food for its nourishment and the tree dies. Since pruning is a key element in insuring the continued health and beauty of your trees, it is vitally important to use correct procedures.

Trees are generally pruned for two main reason: strength and form. Pruning guidelines refer to the 5 D's or situations that call for pruning: dead, dying, diseased, damaged, or deformed branches.

Pruning for strength involves removing water sprouts and suckers found in the interior of the tree and branches that are rubbing together. The ideal branch angle for a strong tree is a 10 and 2 o'clock position or about 45 degrees in relation to the trunk.

Pruning for form involves removing some of the interior branches to allow for air circulation and additional sunlight to reach the inner part of the tree. It also involves removing any branches growing inward toward the center or downward.

Pruning is best done in winter or early spring before the tree's growth flush. The foliage is gone and the branch structure is clearly visible.

Branches should be pruned just outside the branch collar, which contains trunk or parent branch tissues. If the trunk collar has grown out on a dead limb to be removed, make the cut just beyond the collar. Do not cut the collar.

Never remove more than one quarter of a tree's leaf-bearing crown when pruning. A good rule of thumb to follow is that a tree can recover better from several small pruning wounds than from one large wound. Main side branches should be at least one third smaller than the diameter of the trunk. For most deciduous or broadleaf trees, do not prune up from the bottom any more than one third of the tree's total height.

Wound dressings, though once thought to be helpful in accelerating wound closure and protect against insects, diseases, and decay, are not recommended by experts.

Always use the right tool for the job. Small trees should be pruned using bypass blade hand pruning shears to make a cleaner, more accurate cut. For larger cuts, use the lopping shears or a pruning saw. Never use hedge shears to prune a tree. Make sure that tools are always kept sharp and clean to minimize damage and eliminate spreading disease between trees.

Unlike a bad haircut, a poor pruning job can not only affect the beauty of your tree, but the life expectancy as well. So, like a good hair stylist who charges by the snip, prune wisely. Your trees will thank you for years to come.