Pruning for tree health focuses on cutting off dead, diseased, and dying branches and branches that rub together. Pruning can also be used to nurture trees to develop a strong structure and lessen the likelihood of damage during harsh weather. Pruning for form can be incredibly essential on open-grown trees that do very little self-pruning.
All woody plants shed branches in reaction to competition and shading. Poorly attached branches may be broken off by wind and snow. Branches removed by such natural forces often result in ragged, large wounds that seldomly heal. Pruning as a cultural practice can replace or supplement these natural processes and increase the longevity and health of trees.
Pruning is more than just a simple act of chopping off limbs and should be a daily part of all shrub and tree maintenance programs. Proper pruning promotes healthy growth, increases fruit production, and eliminates damaged limbs, giving an aesthetic look to a tree. Furthermore, it should enhance the tree's natural shape if done at the right time and using proper techniques. Here are the things you must know about tree pruning:
Remember that your cuts will encourage new growth when shaping or trimming branches and limbs small enough to cut with hand tools. Cut limbs ¼ inch above a bud facing the outside of the tree. It will be the direction of the new growth. Keep your cuts at a 45-degree angle to prevent disease and water damage.
To find the proper spot to chop a branch, check the underside of the branch's base and look for the branch collar. There should be a bark ridge on the upper surface that runs about parallel to the branch angle along the stem of your tree. The right pruning cut does not damage either the branch collar or the bark ridge.
Cut-off dead branches in the same way as you would with live branches. Making the right cut is easy because the branch collar and the branch bark ridge can be identified from the dead branch since they grow continuously. Make the pruning cut just outside the ring of wound wood tissue formed. Be careful not to cause unnecessary injury.
Crown thinning
is the selective cutting of inner branches evenly throughout a tree's crown. It effectively allows light to travel through the crown and allows air to circulate throughout the canopy without altering the tree's natural shape.
Crown lifting
involves the removal of lower branches to increase the clearance between the soil and the lower branches. It's also used to reduce weight from a tree and let the light pass through the branches.
Crown reduction
is used to control the size of the tree while maintaining the structure or shape of its crown. It is done by climbing out to the very ends of the crown to take off the excess weight.
Pruning trees while still young will save you money in the long run. We can help you ensure your trees continue to grow to their full potential. Call us at 03-9913-5195.