When it’s time to trim your trees, you probably have many questions about how to prune them properly. Is this the right time to prune? What happens if I cut too many branches? When you have the answers to all your questions, you will have the confidence to properly prune your trees, knowing that it will add to your trees’ life span and improve the aesthetics of your landscape.
Once you master proper tree-trimming techniques, you can make the right decision when making your cuts. Below are some tips to bear in mind:
Trimming Safety
The first thing to do is carefully inspect the pruning situation. Is it something you can do yourself without putting yourself in danger, or is it something better left to a professional arborist? After your assessment, if you conclude that it’s best done by a professional equipped with the right equipment and advanced training, then call one. Here are a few examples of a complicated pruning task:
- Big branches close to buildings
- Removal of large dead branches
- Tree trimming close to power lines
When To Prune Trees?
If you’re wondering when is the right time to prune your trees, we would recommend late fall and early winter for trees that are deciduous while for evergreen trees, that is, trees that have green leaves and don’t fall out throughout the year, pruning should be done lightly and in late winter.
Dead or infected branches should be removed immediately. Ignoring or waiting for a particular season before you cut them might be detrimental to your tree’s health.
How To Handle Common Tree Pruning Challenges?
You may encounter tree pruning challenges created due to natural growth patterns, unique landscape needs, or storm damage. Here are some examples and tips for tackling them.
V-shaped trees
Trees shaped like a V are usually weak and are susceptible to major damage in the event of high wind. To avoid any problems with your v-shaped trees, cut away one of the stems while the tree is young.
Suckering
Suckers are growths from the root of a tree. Some trees can sprout suckers as a survival instinct to combat stress. Ifs suckers are left to grow, and they can cause problems for the parent tree. To prevent this, cut suckers off before reaching 6 to 12 inches.
Forked Trunks
Trees with forked trunks are prone to hollow cavities caused by insect infestation. This will eventually cause the tree to split or one of the trunks to break off. To avoid this, cut off one of the forked trunks while the trunk is still young. Try to cut them off at ground level.
Clustered Branches
If you have a tree that has too many branches, it is very likely to grow weak. To stop this from happening, remove excessive branches.
Now you know how to deal with specific tree-pruning challenges. Your garden is on its way to looking healthy and great!
