| Myth: | Wound dressing is necessary. |
| Fact: | Wound dressing serves no functional purpose, only aesthetic. If anything dressings can speed up fungal and decay microorganisms by trapping moisture. Left alone and it will dry faster and heal naturally by producing its own enzymes against rot and disease. |
| Myth: | Trees should be topped to reduce their size. |
| Fact: | Topping is actually harmful to trees. Cutting the top from a tree results in reduced growth and can lead to weak limbs that are hazardous during storms. |
| Myth: | Trees have taproots. |
| Fact: | Taproots do not form on trees planted in our urban landscapes. 80% of roots grow within the top 12" of the surface. |
| Myth: | Branches should be cut flush with the trunk. |
| Fact: | Branches should never be cut flush to the trunk; this cuts into the branch collar, which is an effective decay barrier between the branch and trunk. Flush cuts also increase the size of the wound, exposing trunk tissue to organisms that cause decay. |
