tree diseases and the symptoms to watch for

4 FAQs When It Comes To Tree Pruning

23 April 2018

Wesley Perry

Trees are a great asset to any yard. Not only do they provide shade from the sun, protection from the wind, and a place for birds to live, they are also good for the environment. If you love your trees and want to ensure they stay healthy and live for years to come, the best thing you can do is prune them.

To help get you started, here are the answers to four frequently asked questions when it comes to tree pruning.

What Are the Benefits of Tree Pruning?

Besides keeping your trees healthy, there are other benefits of pruning. Some of these benefits include:

• Helping to maintain the structural integrity of the tree
• Preventing the tree from losing branches and limbs, which helps to keep outdoor areas safe
• Helping to keep the tree beautiful and aesthetically pleasing
• Increases the size of the flowers and fruits that the tree bears

Along with these benefits, tree pruning also helps to prevent disease, keep pests at bay, and correct irregular growing habits.

What Are Some Common Tree Pruning Methods?

You might think that there is only one correct way to prune a tree. This could not be further from the truth. Certain pruning methods help trees in specific ways. For example, if you are thinning your tree, you are removing branches as a way to reduce the density without affecting its height.

Other tree pruning methods include:

• Cleaning - removes dead, broken, or diseased branches and is usually done on mature trees only
• Raising - removes or shortens lower branches to provide clearance for things like signs and pedestrians
• Reducing - removes larger branches to reduce the tree's spread or height

If you're not sure of the method to use in order to get the desired effect, you may want to contact a tree pruning service to do the job for you.

When Should Trees Be Pruned?

Most tree pruning professionals would agree that the best times to prune your trees is either in the winter or the summer. Most would suggest not to do it in the fall, as this is when fungi usually spread their spores, leading to decay.

What Tools Are Used for Tree Pruning?

Tree pruning requires the use of sharp tools, which can make this task somewhat hazardous. Some of the most common types of tree pruning tools include:

• Pruning saws
• Loppers
• Hedge shears
• Ratchets
• Bypass pruners

If you don't feel comfortable using these sharp tools, you will want to contact a professional tree pruning service.

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