Davis Tree Service

Please don’t let your tree guy lions tail prune your trees!

Lion’s tail pruning (also called “lion-tailing”) is when a tree is stripped of its inner branches, leaving foliage only at the ends of long limbs. It might look clean, but it actually creates several serious problems for the tree:

1. Weak, failure-prone limbs

By removing interior branches, all the weight gets pushed to the tips. This creates a long lever arm effect, making limbs much more likely to crack or fail especially in wind or storms.

2. Increased storm damage risk

Trees are designed to distribute wind loads throughout the canopy. Lion-tailing turns branches into “whips,” increasing movement and stress, which raises the risk of breakage.

3. Sunscald and bark damage

Inner branches and foliage normally shade the trunk and major limbs. Removing them exposes bark to intense sun, which can lead to sunscald—especially in Texas heat.

4. Reduced energy production

Leaves are the tree’s food source. Stripping out interior foliage reduces the tree’s ability to photosynthesize, weakening overall health and slowing growth.

5. Stress response and poor regrowth

Trees often respond by pushing out weak, fast-growing sprouts (epicormic growth). These shoots are poorly attached and more likely to fail later.

6. Unnatural structure

Lion-tailing removes the natural taper and branch distribution that gives trees their strength. Over time, this leads to structural imbalance and decline.

What proper pruning should do instead:

A qualified arborist focuses on:
• Selective thinning (not stripping)
• Maintaining natural branch structure
• Reducing weight evenly
• Removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches

Bottom line:

Lion’s tail pruning doesn’t “clean up” a tree—it sets it up for failure. It increases risk, reduces health, and often leads to more costly problems down the road.

To avoid this hire an ISA Certified Arborist to care for your trees!

Ryan Davis
ISA Certified Arborist
ISA # TX-320014A
(832) 372-3686
Davis Tree Service

Today I'm starting a new series for Davis Tree Service. Free tree work! I feel blessed to be able to do what I love for a living and want to give back to my community. This is why we will be offering free tree work a few times a year to people who we feel need the help! I met Miss Elizabeth a few weeks ago and just knew she was the perfect candidate for this project.

If you have someone you think would be a good candidate for this please reach out to me at my email [email protected] or my cell (832) 372-3686 and we will take everyone into consideration for our next project! Thanks and God Bless!

Free Tree Service! - Davis Tree Service Today we decided to give back! I met miss Elizabeth and immediately knew she would be a great candidate for this free tree work. We have been blessed to be a...

Training the new guy today!

Give us a call for all your tree needs in Montgomery County!

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Ryan Davis
ISA Certified Arborist
ISA # TX-320014A
(832) 372-3686
Davis Tree Service

Are your trees suffering without you knowing? Many trees in the urban landscape suffer from volcano mulching.

“Volcano mulching” (also called “mulch volcanoes”) is bad for trees because it creates conditions that damage the trunk, roots, and overall health of the tree rather than helping it. Here’s why:

1. Trunk rot and disease

Tree trunks are not meant to stay constantly moist. When mulch is piled up against the bark:
• Moisture is trapped against the trunk
• Bark begins to decay
• Fungal and bacterial diseases become more likely

This can eventually girdle the tree, cutting off water and nutrient flow.

2. Insect and rodent damage

Mulch volcanoes provide a perfect hiding place for:
• Borers and other insects
• Rodents that chew bark

Feeding damage around the trunk can seriously weaken or kill the tree.

3. Poor root oxygen exchange

Tree roots need oxygen. Thick, piled mulch:
• Reduces air flow into the soil
• Encourages shallow, circling roots instead of deep, stable ones

This makes trees less drought-tolerant and more prone to falling.

4. Stem girdling roots

Mulch volcanoes encourage roots to grow upward and wrap around the trunk. These girdling roots slowly strangle the tree as it grows.

5. Nutrient and water imbalance

Instead of soaking into the root zone:
• Water may run off the mulch pile
• Nutrients can be unevenly distributed

This can lead to stress even when the tree looks “well cared for.”

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✅ What to do instead
• Keep mulch 2–4 inches deep
• Pull mulch 3–6 inches away from the trunk
• Spread mulch in a wide, flat ring that extends to the drip line if possible

A properly mulched tree should look like a donut, not a volcano.

If you have a tree in your landscape that may need attention feel free to give me a call any time for a free estimate!

Ryan Davis
ISA Certified Arborist
ISA # TX-320014A
(832) 372-3686
Davis Tree Service