No doubt about it, trees are beautiful and functional additions to a property. Whether you’re on a property with mature trees, or concerned about developing trees on a fairly new landscape, it’s important to have some level of understanding of when trees need pruning.
The intervals of tree pruning and reasons vary depending upon many factors. Some trees require more ongoing attention, and the relationship of where your trees are located also becomes an influence.
Joshua Tree has been helping homeowners care for their trees since 2004. Through the years, there have been many common issues that prompt people to inquire about tree pruning.
Although some cases may be obvious, we know a lot of people have a degree of uncertainty about when, how, and whom should be pruning their trees.
That’s why we’ve created this resource, so you can easily walk around your property and spot some telltale signs that you should consider contacting a Certified Arborist to visit your property for an evaluation.
Even in nature, trees develop problems that occur from normal growth. Those common issues become even more troublesome when plants are installed next to structures, competing plants, and in close proximity of people.
There are many reasons Certified Arborists recommend tree pruning for improved safety and health, but there are a few that rank among the most common.
Trees are often planted near streets, walkways, parking areas, structures, and in the path of certain views. As trees mature, lower branches will grow longer, causing them to become heavier and sag.
This growth often impedes pedestrians, obstructs views, and heavy, lower branches may touch or even break off, damaging nearby structures or vehicles.
Both corrective and preventative tree pruning with a technique called “crown raising” can help to remedy or even prevent these issues. Certified Arborists will selectively prune entire branches or a portion of them to essentially “raise” the canopy of the tree. This is done in a manner that allows an naturally attractive tree structure to remain.
It may be more obvious when you spot a fallen limb on the lawn after a storm, but branches often decay over a number of years before they break and fall. Sometimes these limbs are obvious when looking up into a tree as they won’t be growing any foliage.
However, it’s pretty common for property owners and managers to not notice these defects, that can even begin occurring when the branch may still be supporting leaves or needles.
Falling branches are an obvious safety concern, but decaying branches also pose major health risks for trees. As a branch decays, more and more live tissue is affected. Many times, smaller branches will decay back into larger leaders and even the trunk, causing irreversible damage.
In order to prevent further damage, corrective pruning can remove dead or damaged portions of trees to reduce the chances of the decay from making matters worse.
Pruning cuts can be made at natural crotches in branches so that your tree still has a natural shape, only without the dead extremities.
The perfect tree would have branches grow out from the trunk without rubbing against one another. This preferred scaffold of branches is what Certified Arborists refer to as “branch structure”.
However, it’s unlikely that trees will exhibit good structure on their own. Some varieties are notorious for developing poor structural growth.
Tree branches that are too close (or will be in a couple years) can cause decay points, rubbing and scraping, actually making your weight more and be more prone to damage.
To address these structural problems, a tree pruning technique called “crown thinning” selectively prunes out under 30 percent of the growth, uniformly throughout the tree. The result is leaving only the branches that truly matter and that you would want to grow for better tree structure.
Some people may assume that the basic requirements to prune trees is a disregard for heights, some past experience, and the necessary equipment. But when it comes to avoiding catastrophes, there’s so much more to look for.
Tree work is rated as one of the most dangerous professions, so a strict adherence to safety regulations is a must. But beyond the safety implications, proper tree pruning is both an art and a science.
Using the wrong tree service could mean irreversible damage to your trees, damaged property, personal injury, and even death (of people or your tree).
When interviewing a potential tree pruning service, be sure the companies you consider have the following:
If you compare tree services based first on these factors, it will filter out a large number of bad options.
Remember, it’s your goal to find a tree service which is competent and that you can trust to not only get the job done, but deliver the results and experience you’re hoping for.
You’re trees are counting on you! If you suspect you have these (or other) tree-related problems, we’d be happy to visit your property and give our expert analysis on how pruning can help your trees to live a long, healthy life.
With the right care for your trees, you’ll gain valuable peace of mind. If you’re interested in having your trees inspected and their health assured, contact us for a free consultation or give us a call at 833-JTE-TREE.