Tree pruning is a common maintenance procedure, and one of the most important routines when it comes to caring for trees in your landscape. Pruning on a regular routine can remove weak, dead, or diseased limbs and can be done at any time throughout the growing season without too much effect on the tree. With the proper knowledge and understanding of tree biology, pruning can elongate the life and health of a tree.
Tree pruning 101
Besides the obvious reason of encouraging strong growth and health, there are other key motivations to prune your trees. It increases flower and fruit production, removes damaged limbs, enhances natural shape, provides clearance, reduces shade and wind resistance, and could even save a storm-damaged tree. You can do light pruning for spring growth, or heavy pruning to remove dead branches and limbs.
How to tree prune
While pruning is important, it doesn’t have to be complicated. First, identify your purpose for pruning. Are you shaping the tree, or doing it for health reasons? Also, when is the last time the tree was pruned, if ever? Assessing the tree and the branch layout will determine what kind of pruning session is required. Next, remove branches that show damage first. Storm, wind, or weather could cause breakage within limbs. After these branches are disposed of, prune branches that act as obstructions such as to telephone wires or your roof. Lastly, prune the branches that shape the tree. For aesthetic purposes, you may want a more neat or clean-looking appearance, and this should be the final step of pruning.
When to tree prune
There is a difference between a shrub and tree pruning, but within both plants, the timing to prune is based on the flowering and growth habits. Every region has different timing of growth based on the seasons, but after this is determined, figuring out what kind of tree you are pruning is the next step. Deciduous trees are pruned earlier in the season, as the ideal time is prior to bud break. Evergreens, on the other hand, develop new growth only once in the spring and should be pruned after this event of new growth.
If you’re unsure of tree pruning, Front Range Arborists can help! Enhancing and preserving all kinds of trees is what we strive to accomplish with each landscape. For more information about how to get your tree pruned, contact our experts for a consultation today.
