Tree Trimming and Shaping

Trees provide beauty and value to a property, but over time, they can become overgrown and disfigured. Proper trimming and shaping help to maintain a healthy and attractive landscape. Tree shaping is a horticultural art that is the culmination of knowledge of the plant’s biology, mastery of pruning techniques, and a vision for how trees can be directed into aesthetically pleasing shapes over time. This combination of science and art can help a homeowner or business owner achieve a garden design goal that will enhance the value of their property.

Tree Trimming

A common form of shaping is trimming shrubs into ornamental designs, such as topiary or formal hedge trimming. A professional can also shape larger trees into a more desirable form or to maintain clearance for power lines or buildings. When done properly, trimming is a vital part of maintaining the health and beauty of a home or commercial property.

When performed incorrectly, however, trimming can lead to damage or even death. Poor cuts, overly aggressive trimming, and a failure to follow recommended pruning techniques can all lead to problems with the health of the tree and may expose it to disease and pests.

In general, tree trimming focuses on the removal of overgrown branches to promote health and aesthetics. This can be done through a variety of techniques, including crown reduction, thinning, and pollarding. Each method serves a different purpose and is best done at a particular time of year to avoid stressing the plant.

For example, thinning is a technique that reduces density to improve light penetration throughout the crown and to lessen the weight on the more substantial limbs. On the other hand, reducing a tree’s height or spread is accomplished by trimming back the leader and lateral branches to secondary branches that are large enough to take over their terminal roles. Lastly, pollarding is the removal of a portion of the tree’s canopy by cutting back to a specified branch or trunk point. Avoiding heading and topping cuts, which cut off the ends of a branch and remove the lateral buds that would have grown to replace the removed bud, is an important element in avoiding damaging the tree during shaping.

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