Top 5 Tree Pruning Tips For Great Looking Trees

 
There’s a secret to tree pruning that most people don’t know about. It’s not surprising, then, that various home landscapes look better than others. Aside from watering and fertilizing, some homeowners know yard care makes a difference.

Once you learn those tips, you’ll join the list of people with great looking trees.

Pruning is beneficial because it makes trees look neater and healthier. That’s by removing overgrown, damaged, or infected parts. It also reduces the risk of branch or whole-tree failure.

Moreover, it allows people to move freely and prevents obstructed views. It removes dead tree branches that may fall and hurt people.

Keep reading to learn how to prune the right way and get these benefits.

Tips for Tree Pruning Correctly

Before starting the pruning process, there are some safety tips you should apply. First, be careful and alert around power lines. Call the experts where necessary.

Secondly, assess the work area for hazards and clear them. Take care when moving or placing ladders and don’t climb one while carrying a tool. Also, don’t trim or prune trees in harsh weather conditions.

Now that we’ve highlighted the safety part, let’s focus on pruning. Here are five tips that will make all the difference to your tree pruning:

1. Ask Yourself Why You are Pruning

Never prune for the sake of pruning. You must have a good reason for doing so. It should be about removing dead, infected, low-hanging, or overgrown parts of the tree. It can even be about reducing the height of the tree to avoid power lines.

Thus, spot the problem areas first and then work on them.

2. Prune More in the Winter Season

Winter is the best time to prune because trees are in their dormant period. You’ll be preparing them to start growing in Spring and through Summer. Avoid doing so in the Fall since tree growth starts slowing in this period. As such, it may open them up to infection.

3. Sharpen Your Pruning Tools Before Cutting

Blunt tools can be dangerous to you and the tree. They might snap and hurt you. Or, you’ll need to apply more pressure to cut, which will injure the tree.

Cut branches a few inches from the trunk at the branch collar. Remove any large protruding stub and never cut into the stem. Shorten branches with an angled cut near a lateral branch.

4. Don’t Cut Tree Branches Indiscriminately

Be methodical about how you select branches for trimming. Remove only the branches that are broken, unhealthy, or have signs of damage. Focus as well on grouped branches or those growing toward the central part of the tree.

Plus, you should identify obstructive branches and remove them. Next, step back and pick branches affecting the shape of your tree. Then, prune them until you get your desired shape.

5. Avoid Removing the Top Tree Cover

Last, avoid removing more than a quarter of the crown in one go. Cut bit by bit over time to allow for recovery and avoid stressing the tree.

Learn More About Caring for Trees

With the tips above, your tree pruning will give you great results. The trees will look better, which, in turn, will improve your yard’s appearance. It will also prevent falling branches and other obstructions.

Read our blog to learn more about caring for trees.