How to Prune Mangrove Trees

Review the trimming criteria for your region. In Pinellas County, Florida, for example, mangroves must be kept more than 6 feet tall if they are more than 10 feet in height before pruning and you must hire a professional to prune them, you can only trim 25 percent of trees more than 16 feet tall and you cannot use chemicals on the specimens.

Trim mangrove trees in October to March, when their growth has slowed down. Because this is the time frost may damage them, it's a good idea not to prune them for at least six months after a freeze.

Remove branches that a freeze has damaged. Maintenance pruning every six months to a year ensures the tree is healthy. Cut off the unwanted wood where it meets other branches.

Create a view through bigger mangrove trees. Prune selected limbs through the center of the canopy. Target those that are crossing or rubbing each other. Also prune branches that appear weak or have less growth.

Undercut the tree. Remove branches on the bottom portion of the mangrove. Cut them where they meet other wood. The goal is to provide a view up to 6 feet tall. New trees that grow, though, cannot be trimmed in some regions until they reach a height of 6 feet.

Make all clean cuts. Ragged cuts cause damage and wound the tree. Stubs invite decay and insect infestation.

Cut branches that are less than 1/2 inch in diameter in a direction that is out and away from the larger limb or trunk. Use three cuts on branches that are larger than an inch in diameter to limit tearing. First cut on the underside of the branch an inch or two from the branch collar. The branch collar is the swollen part where the branch connects to the limb. Make the second cut on the top of the branch, about an inch farther out from the first cut. This should sever the branch at those cut marks, leaving a stub. The third and final cut should be just outside of the branch collar, cutting off the stub.