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Pruning

Pruning or trimming should be done regularly to control its shape and keep branches from harming surrounding structures or people. Pruning should always be performed sparingly. Overpruning is extremely harmful because without enough leaves, a tree cannot gather and process enough sunlight to survive. In some cases, however, pruning is absolutely necessary because damaged limbs pose a threat to other healthy parts of the tree or surrounding structures.

Pruning also directs the growth pattern of a tree. Branches typically grow in the direction that the buds are pointing, and the outermost bud on a branch has the most influence on the direction of future growth. Therefore, you can control the orientation of a branch by carefully selecting the pruning cut's location. Cut so that the outermost bud on the branch is pointing in the direction that you want the branch to grow.

A healthy tree will seal on its own, so wound dressings, which may actually interfere with this process, are not necessary. To aid in the recovery of cuts, water and fertilize your trees well. If you are not confident in the particular pruning needs of your tree, contact us.