The ABC's of Tree Service: Tips for Everyone

Residential Landscaping: Pruning Options for Your Trees

26 February 2016

Roberto Palmer

Trees are ideal for enhancing the aesthetics of the landscape in residential property. However, you will need to perform some maintenance to promote proper growth and improve the appearance of the trees. One of the critical care tasks is pruning; this practice refers to the selective elimination of tree parts. For example, the process can necessitate the removal of branches, limbs and even part of the trunk. In ideal situations, you should hire a tree surgeon or expert landscaper for efficient pruning. However, with the right lopping and pruning tools, you can carry out some minor tasks. Regardless of the selected option, here are the main pruning options that you should understand as a homeowner.

Crown Thinning

The nature of crown determines the aesthetic appeal of every landscaping tree. Therefore, it is important to ensure that this part is not crowded, disorganised or bending due to the heavy weight. Moreover, thinning out the tree will allow better circulation of air around the crown and promote better growth since the leaves will have more access to sunlight. Generally, crown thinning involves removing some select branches from the tree. The remaining branches should have a relatively uniform density on all sides, but the process should not change the shape of the tree significantly. When performing this thinning practice, it is prudent to clean the tree. In simple terms, remove any dead, diseased and weak limbs attached to the tree.

Crown Lifting

When the branches in a residential tree are low, they will become an inconvenience. This growth will block light and create large shades in the compound. In addition, walking and performing other activities in the outdoor space can be difficult and dangerous. Crown lifting is an important maintenance practice that is intended to eliminate the lower branches of the tree. This change will not have a negative impact on appearance of the tree because the crown will not be changed. On the other hand, you should be cautious when handling the lopping task. Lower branches are wider and attached more firmly to the trunk. If the cuts are harsh, the wounds left will be hard to heal.

Crown Reduction

Trees can outgrow the space that was designated for them during the landscaping design process. If you have a tree that is interfering with other structures in your property, you should consider performing crown reduction. Basically, this involves shortening the tree limbs to a more desirable growth length. The practice can cause rotting due to wounds that can't be healed, so this should be a final resort.

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