Tree pruning in Pennsylvania is an important landscaping service that beautifies and reinforces your trees so they can fight off pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look good while doing it!
Pruning needs to be completed if you want a healthy tree, but it has to be done properly by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from PA Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are small and growing, but you also may be doing irreparable damage to the tree in the process.
To properly prune trees, you should know all of the following:
- When to prune your species of trees
- How much of the tree can be pruned at a time
- Where to cut the branches so you do not damage the tree
Removing too much off of a tree could kill it or lead to structural damage, but conservative pruning done each year benefits trees in several ways. Professional pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, eliminates dying or diseased portions and expedites fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning should be performed once a year, but as trees mature, you might be able to wait two years between pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees trimmed, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call PA Tree Trimming in Pennsylvania!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger each year.
Depending on the shape, species and health status of your trees, one method could be more beneficial than another, but each technique has various benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is common for older, overgrown trees in Pennsylvania. This method removes weak branches within the crown of the tree to improve sunlight and air flow throughout the crown. Air flow is especially important for disease prevention.
This tree pruning method also removes branches and limbs that are touching so they do not rub against each other and break or cause weaker areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Limbs that grow at odd angles are usually cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This trimming method only removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them very difficult to remove, and they can pull nutrients away from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weak tree.
There are many reasons you might decide to raise the crown of a tree. Frequently, it is done to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can also be done to increase space for landscaping beneath the tree.
It is a very common method for large trees that are too close to homes and other buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the total size of the crown from its exterior edges. It shortens limbs horizontally and vertically to keep the tree at a certain size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can remove the need to cut the tree down because it will no longer come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction will help the tree look much better because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a great solution for trees that are various ages but you want to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Also known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of pruning technique that removes dying, snapped or diseased limbs so that the rest of the tree may continue to grow normally. These limbs can only cause problems over time.
Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look a lot better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that reduces the chance of falling branches, because healthy branches do not fall very often.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced pruning process used on trees that were severely damaged (either by weather or vandals). It must be done by an experienced arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow over time and how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike other tree trimming services, crown restoration happens throughout an extended time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. An arborist must have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees that add to the beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular vantage point.
It consists of many tree trimming techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – any technique that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that a professional will never compromise the health of a tree, so the focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of pruning that is sure to attract a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning must begin when the tree is very young and then continued very consistently throughout the tree’s life span.
Some of the benefits of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to get to the trees, as well as making it exceptionally easier to produce fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Pennsylvania
Tree pruning can be dangerous for a tree, your lawn, and, of course, for you! PA Tree Trimming highly recommends professional tree trimming over DIY.
Besides the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of harm to a tree if you don’t prune it properly. Over-pruning is one of the most common errors made by homeowners caring for their own trees.
Trees in Pennsylvania that get annual care from a professionals are much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from PA Tree Trimming to care for trees on your property is a decision you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania!
