Tree pruning in Vermont is an important professional service that can beautify and reinforce trees so they can withstand pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look good while doing it!
Pruning has to be completed if you want a healthy tree, but it needs to be done carefully by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from VT Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are small and developing, but you also may be doing permanent harm to the tree.
To safely prune trees, you need to know all of the following:
- When is the best time to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree can be trimmed at at once
- Where to cut the branches so you do not harm the tree
Taking too much off of a tree might kill it or result in structural damage, but conservative pruning done each year benefits trees in several ways. Professional pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, eliminates dying or diseased portions and increases fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning must be done every year, but as trees get older, you might be able to wait two years between pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees trimmed, make sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call VT Tree Trimming in Vermont!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier every year.
Depending on the size, type and health status of your trees, one pruning method might be more beneficial than another, but each technique has distinct benefits to consider.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is common for older, overgrown trees in Vermont. This technique removes weak branches within the crown to improve sunlight and air flow through the crown. Air flow is important for disease prevention.
This pruning method also eliminates branches and limbs that are touching so they no longer rub up against one another and break or cause weakened areas that can be an entry point for pests. Limbs that grow at odd angles are typically cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This pruning technique removes branches at the lowest part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them hard to cut off, and they can pull nutrients from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are a variety of reasons you may choose to raise the crown of a tree. Often, it is done in order to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can also be done to increase space for landscaping underneath the tree.
It is a common technique for large trees that are close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction lowers the total size of the tree’s crown from its exterior edge. It shortens branches horizontally and vertically to keep the tree at a manageable size. By reducing the crown size, you can remove the need to cut the tree down because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even if the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction will make the tree look much better because it eliminates irregular growth. This is a smart idea for trees that are various ages but you want to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Sometimes known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of pruning technique that removes dying, snapped or diseased branches so that the rest of the tree will continue to grow normally. These limbs can only cause problems in the future.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. And it is a safety practice that lowers the chance of branches falling, since healthy branches do not fall very often.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced trimming process used on trees that were significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It should be done by an experienced arborist who knows where the tree is going to grow in the future and roughly just how long it’s restoration is going to take.
Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration happens during a longer period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. Your arborist should have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree begins to grow and reshape on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth pattern.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees that add to curb appeal, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It encompasses many pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – anything that makes the trees look more attractive. Remember, though, that an arborist is not going to sacrifice the health of a tree, so the focus of vista pruning is still to create strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of tree trimming that will attract a lot of attention to your lawn. Espalier pruning should begin when the tree is very young and then done routinely throughout the tree’s life span.
of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it exceptionally easier to harvest fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Vermont
Tree trimming can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! VT Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree trimming over DIY.
Aside from the dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t trim it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners caring for their own trees.
Trees in Vermont that get routine care from a professionals are much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from VT Tree Trimming to care for the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Vermont!
