Types of Tree Pruning

tree pruning types

Tree pruning in Wyoming is a landscaping service that beautifies and reinforces your trees so they are able to fight off insects, diseases and inclement weather – and look good doing it!

Pruning should be performed 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 WY Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small, but you also may do permanent harm to the tree in the process.

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 pruned at a time
  • Where to cut each branch so you do not damage the tree

Pruning too much off of a tree could kill it or cause structural damage, but minimal pruning done annually benefits trees in several ways. Pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, eliminates dead or diseased branches and assists in fruit or flower production.

For the best results, pruning must be performed each year, but as trees mature, you may be able to go two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how often you have your trees trimmed, be sure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call WY Tree Trimming in Wyoming!

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, type and health concerns of your trees, one pruning method might be more effective than another, but each technique has distinct benefits to consider.

Crown Thinning Your Trees

Crown thinning is common for older, overgrown trees in Wyoming. This process eliminates weak branches within the crown to allow more light and air flow throughout the crown. Air flow is important for disease prevention.

This pruning technique also eliminates branches that are touching so they no longer rub up against one another and snap or cause weaker areas that can be an access point for pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are typically cut off during crown thinning.

Crown Raising Your Trees

This pruning technique only removes branches and limbs at the lower part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them hard to remove, and they can draw nutrients from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.

There are several reasons you might want 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 free up space for landscaping under the tree.

It is a common method for overgrown trees that are too 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 maintain 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 interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.

Even when the tree isn’t near structures like these, crown reduction can make the tree look much better because it removes irregular growth. This is a great idea for trees that are different ages but you want to look consistent.

Crown Cleaning

Often known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive trimming technique that removes dead, snapped or diseased limbs so that the remaining parts of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only create problems over time.

Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look a lot better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. Plus it is a safety practice that reduces the likelihood of branches falling, because healthy branches do not usually fall.

Crown Restoration

Crown restoration is an advanced trimming process used on trees that have been significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It should only be performed by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is going to grow in the future and roughly how long it’s restoration will take.

Unlike most other tree trimming services, crown restoration occurs over a longer time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. Your arborist will have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree begins to grow and reshape on its own, working with the tree’s new growth.

Vista Pruning

If you want trees that add to the overall beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The goal of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular viewing point.

It entails many tree trimming techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – anything that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that a professional 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 up against walls or a trellis. It is a different style of tree pruning that is sure to attract a lot of attention to your yard. Espalier pruning must begin when the tree is very young and then continued very routinely 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 much easier to produce fruit.

Professional Tree Pruning in Wyoming

Tree trimming can be harmful to a tree, your lawn, and, of course, for you! WY Tree Trimming highly encourages professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.

Aside from the many dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t know how to prune it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners trimming their own trees.

Trees in Wyoming that get annual care from a professionals are much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from WY Tree Trimming to care for the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of Wyoming!

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