4 Best Ways to Prune a Tree

What's difficult for most people to know is that pruning, when properly done, strengthens rather than deteriorates the tree. It is actually one of the important things you can do for a tree. Proper pruning practice is a mixture of science and art. The moment you understand the science behind it, you can now trust yourself for doing the artistic part of pruning.

Trees are being pruned for a lot of important reasons. Tree pruning is a way of landscape conservation that allows trees to reach their maximum potential and have a long life. By means of tree pruning, you can increase flowering and fruiting, plus control the plant size.

When to Prune?

Technically speaking, pruning will not damage a tree at the wrong time, but it may lose that year's fruits and flowers. There is no bad time to eliminate dead, damaged, or unhealthy branches. Most trees go under pruning in the mid to late winter. Tree pruning during dormancy starts the new growth as the climate begins to warm.

Pruning trees during summer isn't a common option but can be sometimes beneficial if done properly.

What are the best ways to prune a tree?

Tree pruning can be a bit by having an overall assessment coming from a professional arborist. It is good to leave these kinds of tasks to the experts who have both the tools and training for these tricky jobs.

1.  Raising

Raising or "raising the crown" means getting rid of the trees' lower branches to have a clearer view of establishments and signs. It is usually done when the tree limbs get in the way of buildings or people because it accommodates more urban environments. It is said that the desirable clearance for buildings is 10′-15′.

2.  Thinning

Thinning is often practiced on the overgrown trees. It allows the sunlight infiltration and airflow that is really helpful for the growth of the tree. The desirable way is to not eliminate more than 15% - 20% of the foliage on the tree and only cut stems that are 2 inches thick.

3.  Reduction

It is a practice of selective cutting to reduce the height of a tree. It focuses on the skillful and classified reduction of branches that are needed to be cut back for some reasons. It is noted that reduction requires knowledge about the tree's growth and which branches or type of tree must undergo this practice.

4.  Cleaning

Cleaning is simply the act of eliminating all deteriorated and unwanted wood from the tree. It is the ideal method for adult trees as it doesn't remove unnecessary branches.

Most people don't know how to do tree pruning correctly. You might come to think to try it on your own, only to be frustrated by how your tree didn't bloom perhaps or even died. Hiring a skilled arborist will guarantee proper pruning at its finest.