Tree Trimming and Pruning

Tree trimming and pruning are necessary techniques that will help you maintain the health of your trees and shrubs. However, they should be conducted only by a certified arborist. This is because they require specific equipment and proper safety guidelines.

Pruning is a method that involves removing dead, dying or diseased branches, stubs, and overgrown limbs to allow the rest of the tree to grow in a healthy way. This helps the entire tree to get maximum sunlight and airflow through the canopy while keeping the risk of disease and pests low.

Trimming is an alternative method that removes overgrown limbs on shrubs and hedges to control their size and shape for aesthetic purposes. It also eliminates excessively dense bushes which may block essential sunlight and moisture from reaching your landscape.

When pruning trees, the objective is to make sure that all of the tree’s limbs are evenly spaced so the foliage will grow in a balanced and attractive manner. Generally, trimming is only needed when the tree looks too large or awkward.

How often to trim and prune a tree depends on its appearance, as well as personal preference. Trees should be trimmed once or twice per year to maintain the overall growth of the tree.

The One-third Rule:

During any one pruning season, you should not remove more than a third of the total crown of the plant. This is especially true for mature or older trees. Leaving the remaining branches sufficient leaf area to take over the photosynthesis work will help keep the tree from becoming weak and losing its color, texture and shape.

Reducing a Tree’s Height:

As with pruning, reducing the height of a tree is a difficult process. You can try to slow the growth of the tree by making cuts just above lateral branches that are at least a third of the diameter of the branch you’re removing. These cuts should be made at a 45-degree angle, sloping away from the center of the tree to direct growth outward.

This is a better alternative to topping, which involves cutting the top of the tree and letting it re-grow over time. This can be effective for young trees, but isn’t recommended for mature trees because it may have adverse effects on the tree.

Thinning is another method of reducing the size of a tree by pruning back to its original point of attachment. This procedure conforms to the tree’s natural branching habit and results in a more open tree, emphasizing the branches’ internal structure. It also strengthens the tree by forcing diameter growth of the remaining branches.

When thinning, you should always remove the terminal (bud or branch) back to a lateral bud or branch that is at least a third if not half the diameter of the branch you’re reducing. This will ensure that the remaining lateral branches have sufficient leaf area to take over the photosynthesis and fruit bearing functions that the removed branch would have otherwise provided.

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