Managing urban trees is a challenge in any municipality. Coordinating it in Cornellà de Llobregat and Viladecans, with more than 1,900 trees, action schedules, and various stakeholders involved, makes this project an example of large-scale urban management. Espais Verds del Vallès has been awarded the urban pruning service contract and will carry it out by combining technical planning, operational capacity, and constant coordination with Tecsal, S.A., the entity responsible for monitoring the project. This initiative demonstrates that pruning urban trees is not just about cutting branches: it is about efficiently and sustainably managing a vital resource, ensuring safety, tree health, and the quality of public spaces in the Baix Llobregat region.
URBAN TREE PRUNING AS A MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT TOOL
Image: Cornellà City Council
Urban tree management is one of the most crucial tasks for the environmental quality of cities.
In densely populated and active municipalities like Cornellà de Llobregat and Viladecans, urban tree pruning becomes a key action to guarantee safety, plant health, and harmonious coexistence between green infrastructure and public space.
These types of interventions require a technical approach, in-depth knowledge of trees, and professional execution capable of adapting to complex and changing urban realities.
URBAN TREE MAINTENANCE IN CORNELLÀ AND VILADECANS
Image: Viladecans City Council
Urban pruning takes on a completely different dimension when working with thousands of trees, different tree types, and varied urban environments.
In this project:
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- 1,120 trees are being pruned in Cornellà de Llobregat.
- Up to 800 trees in Viladecans, according to the municipality’s actual needs.
This flexible approach allows interventions to be adapted to the evolution of the tree population and the priorities of each municipality, avoiding unnecessary actions and optimizing municipal resources.
BENEFITS OF MUNICIPAL PRUNING: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND URBAN TREES
Beyond simply cutting branches, responsible urban pruning offers clear benefits:
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- Healthier and more balanced trees, by respecting their structure and natural growth.
- Greater safety in streets, squares, and public facilities, by reducing the risk of falling branches.
- Improved quality of urban space, with trees that integrate into the city without interfering with infrastructure.
- Sustainability and economic efficiency, by intervening only when necessary, maximizing the municipal budget.
In this context, urban tree pruning ceases to be a one-off intervention: it becomes a dynamic management tool that combines planning, technical expertise, and professional responsibility, adapting to each tree and each urban environment.
RESPONSIBLE URBAN PRUNING: TREE TYPES AND INTERVENTION METHODS
Image: Viladecans City Council
Urban trees are not homogeneous. Small, medium, and large trees coexist, with very different structural behaviors and needs.
In this context, intervention criteria must be adjusted to factors such as:
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- Height and crown diameter.
- Species and growth pattern.
- Location (public roads, school zones, green areas).
- Relationship with buildings, traffic, and street furniture.
One of the key elements of the project is the technical classification of trees, which determines how, when, and with what methods pruning is carried out.
Pruning of small trees
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- Height less than 6 meters.
- Common examples: Cercis, Prunus.
- Interventions aimed at controlling shape and promoting balanced growth.
Pruning of medium-sized trees
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- Between 6 and 12 meters in height.
- They represent 70% of the interventions in Viladecans.
- Pruning focused on structure, canopy ventilation, and removal of competing branches.
Pruning of large trees
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- Over 12 meters, reaching 20–25 m in urban environments.
- Examples include plane trees, linden trees, elms, and maples.
- These require more extensive planning, specific technical resources, and specialized personnel.
Correctly distinguishing between these tree types allows for pruning tailored to each tree, avoiding generic interventions that could compromise its stability or medium-term development.
The goal is not to standardize actions but to adapt them to respect the tree’s natural growth within the urban environment.
CONTROLLED CROWN REDUCTION IN URBAN TREES
Image: Cornellà City Council
One of the most common practices in urban environments is controlled crown reduction, applied uniformly and respectfully to the tree’s structure.
This is not about “trimming,” but about balancing growth, safety, and longevity.
In both municipalities, the planned pruning involves reducing the canopy or height by up to 20%, a percentage that allows for:
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- Improving structural stability.
- Reducing risks to pedestrians and property during wind events.
- Maintaining the functionality of the trees in the urban space.
- Respecting the tree’s natural structure.
- Reducing excessive loads on main branches.
- Promoting light penetration and air circulation.
When carried out according to technical criteria, this reduction—limited and well-distributed—contributes to extending the tree’s lifespan and strengthening its adaptation to the urban environment.
OPERATIONAL COORDINATION IN URBAN TREE PRUNING
Urban tree pruning is also an exercise in coordination. It takes place in busy streets, schools, pedestrian areas, and spaces shared with other municipal services.
Therefore, collaboration between technical teams, specialized operators, and municipal staff is essential.
This project incorporates direct collaboration with personnel from Tecsal, S.A.
This collaborative model allows us to:
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- Adjust operations to the city’s daily routines.
- Ensure the safety of residents and workers.
- Minimize disruption to the public.
- Achieve greater efficiency in operations.
- Strengthen coordination between the public operator and the specialized company.
Urban tree pruning thus becomes a shared process, not an isolated action.
In this context, Espais Verds del Vallès acts as a technical agent, contributing knowledge and experience while integrating into the municipal dynamics without losing sight of the common goal: caring for urban green spaces.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN URBAN TREE MANAGEMENT
Image: Viladecans City Council
Working on urban trees implies assuming a high level of technical and social responsibility.
Every pruning decision has long-term effects on the tree’s health, the safety of the surrounding area, and the image of the public space.
For this reason, urban pruning must always be carried out by specialized professionals with the training, experience, and ability to apply current urban arboriculture practices, workplace safety standards, and respect for the environment.
A project of this nature requires:
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- Qualified personnel in urban arboriculture.
- Strict compliance with labor and safety regulations.
- Appropriate technical resources.
- Liability insurance.
Urban tree pruning is a high-impact activity where professionalization is not just an added value, but an essential requirement.
In this area, Espais Verds del Vallès contributes technical expertise and a proven track record in the responsible management of urban green spaces.
A MODEL FOR URBAN TREE MANAGEMENT FOR GREENER CITIES
Image: Viladecans City Council
Experience in Cornellà and Viladecans demonstrates that effective urban tree management requires:
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- Realistic planning.
- Operational flexibility.
- Coordination among stakeholders.
- Consistent technical expertise.
When these elements are aligned, the result is safer, more resilient urban green spaces that are better integrated into the city.
When pruning is understood as an improvement tool—and not as a one-off action—clear benefits are generated:
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- Healthier and longer-lived trees.
- Safer public spaces.
- Greener, more resilient, and more livable cities.
Caring for urban trees not only maintains the city, it propels it into the future.
This project demonstrates that a well-executed and technically sound approach to urban tree pruning can be replicated in other municipalities facing similar challenges.
MUNICIPAL TREE MANAGEMENT AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE: THE URBAN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Image: Cornellà City Council
The actions carried out in Cornellà de Llobregat and Viladecans demonstrate that the care of urban trees goes far beyond a one-off intervention.
When management is approached with continuity and technical expertise, the benefits become visible over time.
Healthier and more balanced trees, safer public spaces, and a more livable and resilient city are the result of management that understands urban green spaces as a structural part of the landscape and daily life.
In densely populated municipalities, where trees coexist with infrastructure, facilities, and intense urban activity, maintenance cannot be improvised. It requires a comprehensive vision, adaptability, and constant attention to the balance between safety, natural growth, and the use of public space.
In this project, tree maintenance is not seen as an isolated action, but as an integral part of a city that aspires to be safer, more livable, and greener.
Caring for urban trees and urban green infrastructure is not just about preserving what already exists. It’s about investing in the urban landscape of the future and the quality of life for those who live in the city.
At Espais Verds del Vallès, we have a clear vision of urban green spaces: we understand municipal trees as a living asset that requires management, technical expertise, and continuity over time.
Each municipality presents different realities—scale, density, and tree types.
Every project we undertake at Espais Verds del Vallès shares the same challenge: to integrate trees into the city in a safe, balanced, and sustainable way, because urban trees are an essential part of public space and the future of our cities.
We care for our clients.
We care for the environment.
If you would like more information about our services or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at espaisverds@tma.es.
At Espais Verds del Vallès, we work for a greener, safer, and more sustainable future for all!
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