Tree pruning in California is a professional service that can beautify and reinforce your trees so they will withstand pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look breathtaking doing it!
Pruning has to be done if you want healthy trees, but it has to be done carefully by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from CA Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are small, but you also may do irreparable harm to the tree in the process.
To correctly prune trees, you must 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 at once
- Where to cut the branches so you do not damage the tree
Removing too much from a tree could kill it or cause structural damage, but precise pruning done annually benefits trees in a lot of ways. Professional pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dead or diseased limbs and increases fruit or flower production.
Ideally, pruning needs to be done each year, but as trees get older, you may be able to go two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees trimmed, ensure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call CA Tree Trimming in California!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to correctly trim a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger every year.
Depending on the size, type and health concerns of your trees, one pruning method may be more beneficial than another, but each technique has different benefits to consider.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is common for older, overgrown trees in California. This method removes weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow through the crown. Air flow is important to help prevent disease.
This tree pruning technique also eliminates branches and limbs that are touching so they no longer rub against each other and snap or create weakened areas that can be an access point for pests. Limbs that grow at odd angles are typically cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This trimming technique only removes branches at the lower part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk. Letting low branches get too big makes them hard to remove, and they can draw nutrients from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are several reasons you might decide to raise the crown of a tree. Frequently, it is done to clear the line of sight for cars 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 close to homes and other buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the total size of the crown from its outer edge. It shortens branches vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a certain size. By reducing the size of the crown, you can remove the need to chop the tree down because it won’t interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even if the tree isn’t close to structures like these, crown reduction can make the tree look much better because it also removes irregular growth. This is a smart idea for trees that are a variety of ages but are supposed to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Also referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive tree pruning method that removes dead, broken or diseased branches so that the rest of the tree will continue to grow normally. These branches can only create issues later.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it prevents limbs from rubbing together. And it is a safety practice that reduces the risk of falling branches, since healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is a focused pruning technique for trees that have been significantly damaged (either by pests or weather). It should only be performed by a certified arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow over time and roughly just how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs throughout a longer time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. Your arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, working with the tree’s new growth pattern.
Vista Pruning
If you are striving for trees that help improve the overall beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It entails many pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – any technique that helps the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist is not going to compromise the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to create strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are pruned heavily to grow flat against walls or a trellis. It is a unique style of tree pruning that is sure to attract a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning needs to begin when the tree is young and then continued very routinely during 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 California
Tree pruning can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! CA Tree Trimming highly encourages professional tree pruning over attempting DIY.
Besides the dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t trim it properly. Over-pruning is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners maintaining their own trees.
Trees in California that get routine care from a professionals are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from CA Tree Trimming to care for the trees on your property is a decision you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of California!
