Pruning a tree has a lot of benefits that include human safety and tree health. The most important benefit of tree pruning is to keep people safe. A dead branch can fall from a tree without notice, endangering nearby people, buildings, and power lines. Removing dangerous limbs and maintaining a safe tree is the best course of action.
However, pruning can even be risky depending on the size of the tree and the location of the branches that need pruning. In order to ensure safety, we recommend you let an expert tree surgeon at Boyd’s Tree Service do the pruning.
With proper pruning, a tree can be made to grow into a certain configuration of limbs and branches that is better for the structural integrity of the tree. Maintaining the tree’s structure helps to lessen the risk of broken limbs and falling branches.
When a tree is correctly pruned, it will not have compromising branch structures and improper weight distribution that could bring about a catastrophic result for the tree down the line.
Objective of Tree Pruning
Pruning involves considerably more than the simple act of sawing off limbs and it should be included in all tree and shrub maintenance programs.
Proper pruning facilitates growth, increases flower and fruit production, and improves the health of a tree. Pruning also removes damaged limbs, and, ultimately, gives aesthetic appeal to a tree. Pruning at the right time and in the correct manner is important as it is possible to kill a healthy tree through neglect or over-pruning. Pruning is designed to enhance the tree’s natural shape and contour.
Essentially, pruning promotes the health of your tree by preventing the spread of disease and ensuring that your tree uses energy to grow only the branches that are vigorous and intact.
Pruning is not done only in the case of an emergency or to be practical. Trimming and removing a tree’s branches can both improve its appearance and enhance the way it functions as part of a landscape.
For example, tree pruning:
- Controls a tree’s overall size
- Encourages flowering, fruiting, and growth of certain parts of a tree
- Prevents larger, dead limbs from falling
- Removes useless parts like suckers and water sprouts that appear thin and do not contribute to a healthy canopy of foliage
When to Prune Your Tree
The ideal time for tree pruning is late fall or winter, during the dormant season. During this time the tree is least vulnerable to harm that could result from pruning. Like any other creature, trees are susceptible to stress, and removing their branches does lead to damage to the tree.
When the tree is dormant, however, less sap is lost and insects and fungus are less likely to further damage the tree. Some species of trees require more precise timing and varying approaches for proper pruning.
Late Summer and Early Fall Pruning
Early fall pruning is not recommended for two important reasons:
- It promotes new growth at a time when that growth is more likely to be killed off by increasingly colder temperatures.
- It creates wounds easily infected by fungi that are more active in fall.
For these above-mentioned reasons, pruning during the late summer or early fall is advisable only for the most problematic branches that risk safety or the tree’s health.
Late Spring and Early Summer Pruning
Pruning as summer arrives is a way to control a tree’s shape and appearance. Instead of interrupting the heady spring growth, you can impact future growth by observing how much leaf surface the tree has and figuring out where to cut to best reduce it.
While foliage could hide some problematic branches, it can also expose others by showing which limbs are weaker and less capable of supporting the canopy’s weight.
In short, early summer pruning is recommended for trees that flower in the springtime, such as lilacs and cherries. For these trees, you should make cuts after the tree’s flowers have dropped, not before they bloom. That way, you can enjoy their annual display.
If you are unsure about how to proceed with pruning, you are encouraged to contact a certified arborist at Boyd’s Tree Service.
Let Boyd’s Tree Service Help Keep Your Trees Healthy
At Boyd’s Tree Service, we are a full-service tree and stump removal business that serves the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas. We pride ourselves on always making sure the trees in our communities are healthy and beautiful.
Boyd’s Tree Service has the tools, supplies, and experience to keep your trees and yard looking their best with a range of trimming, removal, and cleaning services.
If you live in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas and you would like more information about our tree services or to schedule an appointment, we invite you to call Boyd’s Tree Service at (509) 585-4194.
