Waiting until the leaves drop in fall is a rule of thumb for pruning shade trees, mainly because you can see bare limbs better, and the job is less “messy” without leaves attached to the cut branches.

It began its life about the time of the Mayflower’s journey to America. After 400 years, it thrives on the edge of Pico Canyon Park in unincorporated Santa Clarita Valley, saved from being knocked ...