PU, you are raising about 5 points at once here. Why not cite the standard or the page number of the bmp so we know wtf you are trying to say.
PUclimber said:
always prune back to laterals and all that good stuff that is listed in the standards.
That is Bullfeathers--which standard are you citing here? It is time to read the directions, the ANSI A300 Pruning Standards.
Heading: 2. Cutting an older branch or stem back to a stub in order to meet a defined structural objective…Heading should be considered an acceptable practice…to reach a defined objective.” (ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001 Pruning 5.7.4.1 and 4.20) Heading cuts are routinely advocated for shrub and fruit tree pruning, bonsai, pollarding and other arboriculture. Selective heading cuts are proper pruning.
The ISA seal says, “Science, Research, Preservation”, good words to work by. Preserving trees is the goal; preserving branches is the first step toward that goal, which can mean cutting back to the first good node. “Topping is done internodal; proper crown reduction is done at nodes, OR at crotches. So the first separation must be nodes—good, internodes—bad.” (Dr. Alex Shigo, A New Tree Biology, p. 458)
Also do you always wear your PPE and gear meets specs.
What specs are you talking about?