Severe pruning — a.k.a. “coat racking” — is never good for ficus and other evergreen trees, but pruning during high heat is even worse. Evergreen trees like the ficus that were heavily pruned outside ...

Ficus trees outside Universal Studios were severely cut back in July, reducing shade for striking actors and writers and potentially harming the trees' long-term health. (Chris Pizzello / Invision / ...