What Is Lacing a Tree?

Thinning

• One type of lacing involves symmetrically pruning a tree with a dense canopy to 20 or 30 percent of its original thickness, so light and air enter enter the tree and the landscape below. The light and air help to keep the tree and the landscape plantings beneath the tree healthy. After the pruning, the appearance of the tree's canopy suggests a piece of lace, such as a bridal veil, which is why the process is referred to as lacing.

Lacing a Tree

• To lace a tree, first view the tree to figure out which branches enhance its shape and structure, and which don't, as Catriona Tuder Erler advises in her May 2003 Log Home Living Article, "Coping with Shade." With clean, sharp shears, prune away excess branches and twigs that detract from the tree's structure, from the inside bottom, working upward and outward. The tree will look better and will continue to grow in an attractive shape for years to come, Erler reports.

  Pruning in late winter, just before spring growth begins, is best for most trees. But, it's usually best to have large trees pruned by professionals, who have the right equipment.

Herbicides

• Lacing also refers to the killing of brush and a large number of small trees in a process that uses soil-applied herbicides. The process, also commonly known as banding or braiding, involves applying a concentrated herbicide solution to the soil above the root zone, in a line or narrow band, every 4 to 6 feet in the field. Rainfall carries the herbicide into the trees' root zone, killing them.

Hiring Professionals

• Credentials for good tree-care professionals include certification with organizations such as the International Society of Arboriculture or membership in professional organizations, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. They should also have proof of personal and property damage insurance, and worker's compensation insurance. Ask for references and gather more than one estimate with written work specifications.