A healthy, well pruned and maintained tree is a delight and the value of a tree cannot be underestimated. Most trees are planted for their aesthetic beauty, but they also provide shade, cleaner air to breathe, reduce the impact of invasive sound and, for many, induce a sense of calm.
Tree pruning is the most common maintenance performed on trees and the intent is to keep their structural integrity. Good tree pruning starts with a strong understanding of tree biology – an understanding that only comes with years of training, experience, and the certification of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
If the trees on your property have branches that look cracked or split, for example, it’s a good time to get in touch with an arborist to give the tree some attention before a limb falls. Topping is perhaps one of the most harmful tree pruning practices around, yet it remains a common practice. Topping is the indiscriminate chopping of tree branches without regard for the tree’s structural integrity.
Why Tree Pruning is Important
The most common reasons for pruning are to remove weak, diseased, or dead branches and reduce the risk of falling tree limbs, many of which can be very heavy and cause significant property damage. Other reasons to prune a tree include:
- Improving form
- Increasing light and air flow
- Correcting structural flaws
At Mark Crane’s Tree Services, we provide high-quality pruning and tree maintenance for everything from large-scale trees such as the mighty California Oak to the fresh-smelling Eucalyptus all the way to smaller varieties like ornamental trees and fruit trees.
PRUNING TECHNIQUES
Different tree pruning techniques are necessary to maintain a new or mature tree and keep it in its safest, healthiest, and most attractive condition.
- Thinning – this technique involves the selective removal of branches to improve the tree’s structure and increase light penetration. Proper thinning results in reduced weight and a natural shape.
- Raising – this technique involves the removal of lower branches to provide better clearance for people, cars, buildings, etc. while keeping the tree’s best shape. Proper raising opens the vista and protects the tree.
- Crown cleaning – this technique involves the removal of dead, diseased, or weak branches from the crown to prevent failure. Proper clearing results in a healthier tree and reduces the risk of falling limbs.
- Reduction – this technique involves reducing the tree’s height or spread for various reasons, such as utility line clearance. Reduction reduces the branch end weight and minimizes the dynamic forces at the attachment point, such as wind, rain or excessive heat. Proper reduction results in a tree that continues to thrive despite environmental concerns.
Most pruning of palm trees is done to remove dead or dying fronds, flowering, and/or fruiting clusters, particularly those that can be a risk to the public. Pruning is usually done at least biannually, but over pruning causes slower growth and can even be an attractor of pests.
Improper tree pruning causes far more harm and expense in the long run. It can even shorten the tree’s life. The team of ISA-certified arborists at Mark Crane’s Tree and Arborist Services design a master plan for every tree in our care.
Liability insurance up to 5 Million dollars.