Trees that are not pruned regularly can grow and look unbalanced and deformed. Branches can sprout in strange directions and this uneven growth can make your trees look scruffy. Trimming is like a much-needed haircut, one that enhances the natural shape of the tree. The most important thing to remember is that pruning allows shrubs or trees air and sunlight, which are essential for their survival.
This will not only keep them alive, but will also allow plants to grow healthy. How often a tree will need to be pruned may vary depending on the type, size, age and health of the tree. Usually, most mature trees need to be pruned every 3-5 years, while a younger tree will need it every 2-3 years. A fruit tree should be pruned annually, while some evergreens can last for many years without needing a single cut.
Our certified arborist will help you determine the best schedule for your trees. A general rule of tree pruning is to try, whenever possible, to remove only a quarter of a plant's growth at any given time. Getting more growth will not only have a negative impact on the health of the tree, but will also produce even more growth. I want to make sure the trees in my front yard are healthy, so I'm considering hiring a professional to prune them.
The more often these cuts are made, the more likely your tree will recover from the calculated injury of a pruning cut. If they are growing too much, or if there are branches that invade areas where they can cause safety problems or aesthetic problems, it may be time to prune the tree. Smaller branches should be trimmed to the larger branches from which they sprout to minimize the risk of disease entering the tree. Pruning at the right time and in the right way is essential, since it is possible to kill a healthy tree by negligence or excessive pruning.
Each species of tree grows at different rates and has different implications for how often they will need to be pruned. As I get older I realize that taking proper care of trees is an art form, and understanding the fine details definitely goes a long way. So now that you're an expert on when to prune trees, it's time to review the signs you need to prune them. Now that you know when not to prune trees (during the fall or when it's cold), let's talk about when is the best time to prune.
They will grow a callus over the cut, which you may have seen on many trees, to protect them from infection by diseases or pests. If you notice that your branches are rotting, you will need to take immediate steps to prune the tree, as rotting wood can become extremely weak and brittle, leading to safety issues. If allowed to spread out of control, diseases can easily kill a tree and spread to other trees, weakening and killing them as well. If the tree has developed a fungus, you may see necrotic lesions on the leaves or a growth of white fungi as in the case of powdery mildew.
Thoroughly cleaning tools before heading to a new branch or tree will prevent the spread of disease from one branch or tree to the next.
