Use of artificial pruning of trees to improve wood quality is not new in concept but is new in practical forestry application.
High grade logs with wood largely free of knots are an important forestry objective.
With this old outlook on pruning to improve wood quality, new methods and applications have led to a revolution in artificial pruning application as a major silvicultural practice. The use of pruning is not new in concept, but is new in application. Pictures from a 1940 s filmstrip put out by the USDA Forest Service. Artificial pruning should be used only when natural pruning has been unsatisfactory in meeting your stand production requirements. In applying artificial pruning only the premium sawlog trees should be considered.