Most homeowners want their trees trimmed without leaving hidden problems behind. One method treats your trees gently. The other pokes holes in the trunk every step of the way. Rope-based climbing has become the go-to approach for pruning because it keeps the climber off the bark and avoids the punctures caused by spikes. Why spike-free climbing matters for pruning Modern pruning standards, including ANSI A300, direct arborists to avoid climbing spurs for trimming work. The on