Tree pruning in Connecticut is an important landscaping service that beautifies and reinforces trees so they are able to fight off pests, diseases and severe weather – and look wonderful while doing it!
Pruning must be completed if you want a healthy tree, but it has to be done very carefully by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from CT Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune trees safely while they are still small, but you also may do permanent damage to the tree.
To properly prune trees, you need to know all of the following:
- When to prune your species of trees
- How much of the tree should be trimmed at a time
- Where to cut each branch so you do not damage the tree
Pruning too much from a tree can kill it or result in structural damage, but precise trimming done each year benefits trees in a lot of ways. Pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, eliminates dead or diseased limbs and assists in fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning must be performed annually, but as trees mature, you might be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees pruned, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call CT Tree Trimming in Connecticut!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to correctly trim a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier every year.
Depending on the shape, species and health status of your trees, one method may be more effective than another, but each technique has distinct benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is common for larger, overgrown trees in Connecticut. This process removes weak branches within the crown to allow more light and air flow through the crown. Air flow is important for disease prevention.
This pruning technique also gets rid of branches and limbs that are touching so they do not rub up against each other and break or cause weakened areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Branches that grow at odd angles are typically removed during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This pruning method removes branches at the lower part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are a variety of reasons you may decide to raise the crown of a tree. Frequently, it is done to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can be done to make 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 reduces the total size of the tree’s crown from its outer edges. It shortens limbs horizontally and vertically to keep the tree at a certain size. By reducing the crown size, you can eliminate the need to cut down the tree 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 help the tree look neater because it eliminates irregular growth. This is a good solution for trees that are various ages but you want to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Sometimes referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive trimming technique that eliminates dying, broken or diseased limbs so that the remaining sections of the tree can grow normally. These limbs can only create problems over time.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look a lot better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. Plus it is a safety practice that reduces the risk of falling branches, since healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced trimming method for trees that have been severely damaged (either by weather or vandals). It must only be performed by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is going to grow over time and how long it’s restoration is going to take.
Unlike other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs throughout an extended period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. An arborist will have a plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees that increase curb appeal, you are actually interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It entails many pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – any technique that helps the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that a professional is not going to jeopardize the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to maintain 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 must be started when the tree is very young and then done consistently during the tree’s life span.
Benefits of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it much easier to produce fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Connecticut
Tree trimming can be harmful to a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! CT Tree Trimming highly encourages professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.
Aside from the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t know how to prune it correctly. Over-pruning is one of the most common errors made by homeowners maintaining their own trees.
Trees in Connecticut that get routine care from a professional are much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from CT Tree Trimming to trim the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Connecticut!
