Why is Structural Pruning Important?
Why is Structural pruning important?
Why is Structural pruning important? Pruning is a method used to care for trees, enhancing their overall health and structure by:
- Developing a single dominant trunk
- Distributing smaller branches horizontally and vertically around the trunk
- Reducing the likelihood of tree failure
- Slowing the growth of large, aggressive, or long branches
- Thinning dense clumps of branches
- Reduced future maintenance costs
The goal of any tree care treatment is to prolong the lifespan of the trees in your yard. Pruning plays a vital role in maintaining the health of your landscape’s trees. When performed correctly and at the right times in a tree’s life, it can significantly contribute to its longevity and overall well-being! Structural pruning works best on young to middle-aged trees, although it can be applied to trees of any age. This technique is a training method that should be practiced consistently throughout the tree’s lifespan.
Here are some tips for effective structural pruning:
- Subordination: Remove growth from the end of the largest diameter branches to encourage other parts of the tree to grow larger. This keeps branch sizes small, so future cuts will be smaller.
- Reduction cuts: Shorten stems back to lateral branches that are at least one-third the diameter of the cut stems.
- Remove co-dominant stems: When two stems are competing with each other, remove one of them.
- Remove broken or cracked branches: Remove any branches that may have been damaged during planting or moving.
- Shorten branches that rub against each other: Prevent bark injury by shortening branches that are touching.
The Importance of Choosing an ISA Certified Arborist
Investing in professional structural pruning is essential for trees in city environments. Not only does it protect your investment in tree planting, but it also minimizes risks and enhances the safety of both people and property. By hiring an ISA Certified Arborist, you gain access to their specialized knowledge, training, and qualifications, which enable them to efficiently evaluate and prune trees, promoting their health and structural stability.
Reach out to us at Johnson Ops Tree Care for a landscape assessment. One of our ISA Certified Arborists will be happy to meet with you and discuss any concerns you have about your yard.
