Pruning Do’s And Don’ts: What You Need To Know

Reasons Pruning Is Necessary

There are several reasons that you should consider pruning your trees on a regular basis. Regular pruning of trees can help to establish a good structure. You want the tree to grow with the limbs in a pattern that is best for the integrity of the tree itself. Ensuring that the tree’s structure is sound, can help to reduce broken limbs.

Another reason for regular pruning is to reduce risk to the tree or its environment.  By removing, dead, diseased, and damaged branches you head off the spread of any illness or damage that can be done to your property.

Remember to maintain good clearance between trees and the structures on your property.  Tree limbs should be at least 8ft from your roof, and 10 feet from your chimney.  To maintain head clearance, you’ll want limbs to be no less than 8 ft above a sidewalk and 14ft over roadways.

Pruning At The Proper Time

The proper timing is critical to keep the health of the tree vital. For example, fall isn’t a good time to prune because pruning encourages new growth of the tree. Temperature drops can kill new growth and it’s best to wait until winter to do the pruning. Trees that are pruned before spring heal better and grow properly.

You want to avoid pruning the trees when it is susceptible to pests or disease. For example, some diseases are spread through beetles that are attracted to the fresh cuts of the tree. There are certain times of the year, such as during the warmer months, when this is more likely to happen. By avoiding pruning in the wrong time of the year, you can prevent the risk of those diseases.

Cut Correctly

There is more to pruning your trees than simply cutting limbs off. There are certain mistakes you don’t want to make when cutting. The type of cuts you want to avoid include:

• Flush Cuts – This is when someone cuts off the tree limb or branch flush with the tree trunk itself or the larger branch it was attached to. This can cause the branch to lose the collar that is needed to seal over the area once a cut has been made. You can avoid this from happening by making sure to identify the collar before making the cut.
• Stub Cuts – This is the opposite of a flush cut where the cut made leaves a long stub protruding from the branch and the collar can’t grow over the cut to heal the tree. The best rule to follow is if your hat can hang on the cut, it’s too long.
• Heading Cuts – This type of cut is where the larger branches are removed leaving smaller ones around an area. This encourages the growth of smaller, less strong branches to continue to grow in the area. These branches do not follow the natural growth pattern and are not strongly attached to the tree itself. It will lead to more debris in your yard as the tree limbs break off.
• Lion Tailing – This type of method removes the inner layer of branches and leaves and only leaves behind the outer layer. It is not recommended because it takes away a lot of necessary foliage and can compromise the entire structure of the tree. You are then open to wind damage and even increasing the stress response of the tree itself.

Interactive Image

Hover over the arrows to see what these bad pruning methods look like on your tree.

The best method to use is the 3-cut method. This is the best way to remove large branches without damaging the tree behind. Improper cuts can cause damage such as limbs dying and falling or making the tree not grow as it should. The three cuts include:

• First cut – Shallow cut on the underside of the branch that is one or maybe two inches past the branch collar.
• The second cut – Make a cut about 2-4 inches past the branch collar that will remove the entire branch and leave a stub behind.
• Third cut – The final cut is to cut the stub off while protecting the branch collar.

The Right Tools Make A Difference

The tools used make all the difference in how your pruning experience goes. When the wrong tools are used, it can make it disastrous. There are typically four tools that are necessary to prune or trim your trees properly without causing damage in the process. These include:

• Pruning shears
• Loppers
• Pruning Saws
• Chainsaws

All of the tools need to be kept in good condition and sharp to make the job simple and effective. A good tool can make the job seamless where a not-so-good tool can cause a frustrating and dangerous experience.

When the wrong tools are used, it can also leave the tree open to disease and weaken the infrastructure. That’s why it is best to work with the pros to make sure everything is done properly for the health, beauty, and wellness of your tree population.