The underlying purpose behind tree pruning has stayed the same.
People have been pruning trees ever since the agricultural revolution kicked off. Granted, the tools and techniques have changed over time as we’ve learned how to get better results, but the underlying purpose behind tree pruning has stayed the same. It was originally a process used to increase orchard production and to create more sustainable sources of wood, but nowadays, we often include pruning in our landscaping approaches. Here’s what goes into pruning young and old trees so you can better understand the processes deployed by Harford Tree.
Why Pruning?
What we’re referring to when we say pruning is the removal of both living and dead tissues from trees. Beyond that strict definition, pruning is really both an art and a science. Arborists are able to look at a tree and figure out where and how each cut should be made in order to have a healthy tree with branches exactly where you want them. Each tree is different and each landscape has different goals driving its development but each factor should be taken into account.
Arborists have been learning more about trees for a long time. It’s an ongoing project that can show us how decaying trees work and how to avoid hurting a tree’s health when making the cuts that go into pruning.
Pruning Young Trees
If it were possible, it would be ideal for an arborist to look at newly-planted trees every couple of years. This would allow them to evaluate the tree’s structure and make any kind of corrections necessary. You can then train the growth of a tree by making small-diameter cuts, preventing all kinds of common structural areas. This can then improve aesthetics and reduce stress-related problems.
Some of the main issues that are addressed are co-dominant stems and poor branch unions with included bark. Co-dominant stems are branches that end up competing with your main trunk, causing nutrient issues as well as water distribution problems. Included bark is another issue, where the trunk and the branch bark roll together, creating a high risk of branch failure. Taking care of these issues early on helps prevent them from getting out of control.
Pruning Mature Trees
After a tree reaches maturity, you no longer need to worry about growing pains and start needing to consider risk management. Dead branches cause risk because they can fall over, same with over-extended limbs. We can manage those risks by pruning larger dead branches or by reducing leverage on certain limbs that are particularly high-risk. A whole-canopy reduction can even be done before extreme weather events to help reduce the chance that a tree uproots. Pruning mature trees can be used to help mitigate a number of risks, all while making your trees look even better.
Tree Care and Maintenance from Harford Tree
Ready to have the beautiful yard you have always dreamed of? Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping, Inc has been in the business for decades, providing customers with quality work and quick responses all at the right price. We service the areas of Harford County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City areas including Bel Air, Fallston, Perry Hall, Towson, Essex, Parkville, White Marsh, and Middle River. For service during business hours, reach out to us or give us a call at 410-592-7321. We offer 24/7 emergency service as well, just give us a call at 443-250-6649. For updates about our business and more informative tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.