10/06/2026
Let's talk about lion-tailing - and why we won't do it. 🦁🌳
This is when a tree's interior branches are stripped out, leaving foliage only at the branch tips. It might look "clean," but University of Florida/IFAS Extension and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) are clear: this is considered arboricultural malpractice, not proper pruning.
Here's why it matters:
🌬️ It shifts all the weight to the ends of the branches, making them far more likely to snap in storms and high winds
🌳 It removes the tree's ability to flex and disperse wind load the way a properly structured canopy does
⚠️ ANSI A300 standards (the national standard for tree care) say no more than ¼ of a mature tree's foliage should be removed in a growing season - lion-tailing blows way past that
📈 It often triggers excessive sprouting, which just creates more weak growth down the road
With how much research is publicly available from UF/IFAS and ISA, there's no excuse for this still being common practice. It doesn't just look bad - it creates real liability for the property owner, while the person doing the cutting gets paid for it.
Our certified arborists follow ANSI A300 and ISA Best Management Practices on every job. If a company offers to "thin it out" like this, ask questions first. Your trees - and your property - deserve better. 🌿
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension (hort.ifas.ufl.edu), ANSI A300 Standards, ISA Best Management Practices