Tree pruning in Arkansas is a landscaping service that beautifies and reinforces trees so they can fight off pests, diseases and severe weather – and look breathtaking doing it!
Pruning needs to be done if you want a healthy tree, but it has to be done carefully by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from AR Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small, but you also may be doing permanent harm to the tree in the process.
To correctly prune trees, you should know all of the following:
- When is the best time to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree can be trimmed at at once
- Where to cut the branches so you do not damage the tree
Removing too much off of a tree can kill it or lead to structural damage, but minimal trimming done every year benefits trees in several ways. Pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, eliminates dead or diseased limbs and expedites fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning should be done annually, but as trees get older, you might be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees trimmed, make sure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call AR Tree Trimming in Arkansas!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger each year.
Depending on the size, species and health problems of your trees, one pruning method could be more effective than another, but each technique has various benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is typical for larger, overgrown trees in Arkansas. This method eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow throughout the crown. Air flow is important for disease prevention.
This tree pruning technique also gets rid of branches that are touching so they no longer rub up against each other and snap or create weakened areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are typically removed during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This pruning method only removes branches at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them very difficult to remove, and they can draw nutrients from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are a variety of reasons you may choose to raise the crown of a tree. Frequently, it is done in order to clear the line of sight for cars and pedestrians, but it can also be done to free up space for landscaping underneath the tree.
It is a common technique for overgrown trees that are too close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the overall size of the tree’s crown from its outer edge. It shortens limbs horizontally and vertically to maintain the tree at a certain size. By lowering the crown size, you can remove the need to cut the tree down because it will no longer interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even if the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction will make the tree look much better because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a great solution for trees that are different ages but are supposed to look consistent.
Crown Cleaning
Often referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive pruning method that gets rid of dying, broken or diseased limbs so that the rest of the tree may grow normally. These branches can only create problems over time.
Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look much better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. And it is a safety practice that lowers the chance of branches falling, since healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is a focused pruning method used on trees that have been severely damaged (either by weather or vandals). It needs to be performed by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is likely to grow over time and just how long it’s restoration is going to take.
Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs over a longer time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. An arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, working with the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees to help improve curb appeal, you are actually interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular vantage point.
It consists of several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – any technique that makes the trees look more attractive. Remember, though, that a professional will never compromise the health of a tree, so the focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are pruned heavily to grow flat up against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of tree pruning that is sure to attract a lot of attention to your lawn. Espalier pruning must be started when the tree is very young and then done 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 harvest fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Arkansas
Tree pruning can be harmful to a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! AR Tree Trimming highly recommends professional tree pruning over attempting DIY.
Besides the many possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t prune it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners trimming their own trees.
Trees in Arkansas that get annual care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from AR Tree Trimming to care for trees on your property is a decision you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Arkansas!
