The following specifications and standards of practice apply to the trimming and pruning of trees in the City:
1. All cuts shall be made sufficiently close to the parent stem so that healing can readily start under normal conditions.
2. All dead and diseased wood shall be removed.
3. All limbs one inch in diameter (size of a quarter) or over shall be precut to prevent splitting. All branches that may injure the tree in falling shall be lowered by proper ropes.
4. One of any two crossed or rubbing branches shall be removed where practicable so that the removal will not leave large holes in the general outline of the tree. Some crossed or rubbing branches may be cabled apart.
5. All old and new cuts one inch in diameter and over shall be painted with an approved tree wound dressing. On old wounds, care shall be taken to paint exposed wood only.
6. Where there is known to be danger of transmitting disease by way of tools, such tools shall be disinfected with alcohol before using them on another tree.
7. Old scars which are not healing properly, and where callous growths are not already established, shall be traced and painted, unless some other treatment is designated.
8. Where practicable, all girdling roots visible to the eye shall be treated by cutting off the root at either end, notching the root in the center with a chisel, removing the entire root without injury to the bark or parent stem, or by reporting such condition to the owner.
9. No topping or dehorning of trees shall be permitted, except by special written permission of the City Forester. Trees becoming stag headed may have the dead portions removed back to sound green wood, with a proper forty-five (45) degree cut only.
10. Diseased Elm or Oak wood which is trimmed, pruned or removed shall not be used for any purpose, shall be disposed of by burning or burying immediately and the bark shall be peeled from the remaining trunk.