The Importance of Tree Trimming

Tree Trimming is an important part of gardening that can help enhance the beauty and value of your home or property. It can also protect the safety of your family, friends, neighbors and visitors by preventing broken branches or limbs from falling on people or buildings. Additionally, removing diseased or weak branches can prevent the spread of pests and other hazards throughout your yard or garden.

When done correctly, pruning helps trees look better and stay healthy by reducing the weight of the branches, improving air circulation, and increasing sunlight penetration to the ground beneath the canopy. It can even promote new growth that is stronger and healthier than the old, overgrown branches it removes.

Proper pruning can make your yard a more enjoyable place to be and can create space for gardening or other activities. Branches that hang over your home or limbs that extend into power lines are a serious safety hazard that can cause damage, injuries and even death. By reducing the likelihood of such incidents, regular pruning can keep your yard safe and help to reduce insurance claims caused by fallen tree limbs.

There are several different types of pruning, depending on the desired results:

rejuvenation – involves opening the canopy to improve air movement and light penetration, remove damaged or dead branches, and to shape the plant.

crown thinning – removes branches from the outside edges of the canopy to reduce wind resistance and allow for growth of interior branches.

raking or hedging – the removal of small twigs and leaves from a shrub, to control its size and shape, or for aesthetic purposes.

shearing – the shearing of individual branches to form a formal or semi-formal shape (used in topiary maintenance).

When trimming, be sure to always use sharp tools as dull saws and shears can damage or tear the bark and expose it to pests. Make your cuts at a 45-degree angle to help the wound close faster and prevent water from collecting in it, which can harbor harmful diseases and slow the healing process. Always remove the branch stub as short as possible and make the final cut just outside of the branch collar, the slightly swollen area where the branch meets the trunk.

It is recommended to prune only during late winter or early spring to avoid creating new wounds when decay fungi are sporulating (developing reproductive spores). Generally, you should never remove more than one-third of the total crown in any given year, but this varies from species to species and can be affected by the growing conditions. For best results, consult an expert arborist. He or she can evaluate the condition of your plants and recommend specific pruning techniques that will maintain the health and appearance of your landscape. A trained professional will also have access to the proper equipment and skills to perform many of these tasks safely and effectively.

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