Tree Trimming & Pruning: Tips & Techniques
You may be able do most of the work yourself if you are familiar with the basics of tree trimming and pruning. There are many great tips and techniques to keep your trees in top shape. You can maintain your trees’ appearance and health by using the correct equipment and knowledge.
There are many ways to trim trees, but you don’t need to know everything. You can also hire a professional to do the job and you won’t have to think twice about it. For more information, please see our guide below.
There are reasons to trim or prune a tree
Trees are usually trimmed for aesthetic, safety, or health. Take this example:
- Tree Pruning is a great way to keep it looking good. You shouldn’t force a tree to take on an unnatural size or shape. It could be seriously damaged by the amount of trimming and pruning required.
- Safety – Broken or dead branches and limbs could fall at any moment, which can pose a serious safety risk. You should trim any branches that block your vision while driving. Sometimes, branches and limbs can grow too close to power lines. For such problems, contact the utility company.
- Health Sometimes, it is possible to save infected trees by strategically trimming away any affected branches or limbs. Airflow can be improved by trimming the crown of trees. To prevent branches from falling unexpectedly, it is important to trim or remove any that are rubbing or crossing each other.
General Tree Trimming & Pruning Tips
- It is almost always better to prune or trim a tree when it is dormant. While you can technically prune a pine trees at any time, it’s best to do it when it’s dormant. Only exceptions are when there is a danger to the tree.
- You should be careful about how big the branch is that you want to take out. It is okay to remove a branch that is less than 5 cm in diameter. It should be between 5-10 centimeters in size. You should not attempt to remove anything larger than 10 cm in diameter unless you have a very good reason.
- Do not trim branches with weak angles. Keep branches with strong U-shaped angles.
- The diameter of the lateral branches at the point of attachment should be one-half to three-quarters of the stem’s. They should be removed if they are not.
After pruning is completed, the ratio of tree height to living crown should be at least two-thirds.
- Pruning branches young is a good idea. It is easier to manage them at this stage, and there is less chance of leaving scarring.
- You shouldn’t trim branches too close to the ground or too long. It is important to not leave any branch stubs or remove the branch collar.
Tree Pruning Tips
These tips and techniques can be used to help you whether you are planning on pruning a tree, or just need some information about tree maintenance and care.
These tips and techniques will help you trim the crown of your tree.
- Keep lateral branches as evenly spaced and balanced as possible, especially for young trees.
- Remove branches that cross or run into other branches.
- Never attempt to remove more than one-fourth a living crown at a time. You can spread the work over many years if you have to take out more.
You can prune the tree to make it easier for pedestrians or other purposes. Live branches should not exceed two-thirds the tree’s height. The tree might not develop a strong stem if it has too many branches in the lower half.
Tree Trimming Techniques
These are some tree pruning tips to remember:
- Before you make a cut, be sure to look for the branch collar. This is the part that grows from the stem tissue at its base. The branch ridge is located on the upper surface of the stem and is parallel with the branch angle.
- Cut the stem away from the branch bark ridge. Be careful not to injure or damage the branch collar.
You can use the same method to prune living and dead branches.
To remove a long stem, you can use the three-cut method. First, make a notch at the end of the stem so that it faces away from the branch. Then, cut the second piece inside the crotch and above the branch’s ridge. The third cut will remove the stub. These tips and techniques will help you to trim and prune your trees.