Why We Don’t “Clean Out” the Middle of Your Trees
One of the biggest mistakes in our industry is what’s commonly called an “inner clean” or “lion’s tailing.”
For years, many tree companies have removed the small branches from inside a tree, leaving long bare limbs with foliage only at the tips.
The problem with that is it creates a long lever arm with all the weight concentrated at the end of the branch. Instead of strengthening the tree, it can stress the attachment points and increase the likelihood of branch failure.
The diagram above demonstrates what happens when interior branches are removed. The tree responds by producing sprouts in an attempt to replace the lost foliage, but the original branch structure has already been compromised.
When weight is concentrated only at the ends of branches, leverage forces increase significantly, creating additional stress where the branch attaches to the tree.
The Problem With Lion’s Tailing
A lion’s-tailed tree may look neat and tidy, but appearances can be deceiving.
By removing too much interior growth, the tree loses its natural ability to distribute weight evenly throughout the canopy. The result is long, unsupported branches carrying heavy foliage only at the ends.
Think of it like holding a sledgehammer.
Holding it close to the head is easy. Holding it at the end of the handle takes much more force.
Tree branches work exactly the same way. The farther the weight is from the attachment point, the greater the stress placed on that branch.
Our Approach at Miller’s Tree Care
At Miller’s Tree Care, we do the opposite.
We prune from the outside in, reducing weight at the ends of overextended limbs and making thoughtful cuts back to lateral or scaffold branches where appropriate.
This approach helps:
- Reduce stress on branch attachments
- Improve structural integrity
- Encourage healthier growth patterns
- Increase storm resistance
- Maintain the tree’s natural form
Our goal isn’t to make trees look “clean.”
Our goal is to keep them strong, healthy, and better able to withstand Florida storms.
If your trees have been heavily cleaned out in the past, it may be time to have them evaluated by an ISA Certified Arborist who understands proper structural pruning. That evaluation could help prevent costly property damage, dangerous branch failures, and expensive corrective work in the future.
