When and How to Prune Your Garden Trees
Trees in the wild grow strong and healthy for many generations with little or no intervention; but where people and trees live closely together some additional attention is needed. Garden trees may require any number of treatment methods in their lifetime, some which can only be carried out by a qualified arboriculturist or tree surgeon, but in this article, Shropshire tree surgeon Sid Smallman, of Airborne Tree Specialists Ltd, explains some basic tree pruning techniques that any home gardener could learn, and the key points to keep in mind when deciding to prune a garden tree.
Why Prune Trees?
Pruning is a very invasive treatment, removing or reshaping various parts of a tree. Just like surgery on a person, pruning should only be done when there is a specific reason to do so.
Some of these reasons are for the health of the tree, such as when a tree has dead branches or when limbs are rubbing or overcrowded. Trees may also need pruning when branches hang to low or are in danger of falling, for the health and safety of the people who live or work close to the tree. There are also aesthetic reasons for pruning trees which grow in parks or gardens to ensure they complement their surroundings.
Thinning overcrowded branches allows more light to reach the inner parts of the tree or the ground below, but can also have a negative impact on the health of the tree. The leaves of a tree allow it to use light to convert nutrients from the ground into energy for growth. So pruning actually removes part of the tree's energy source, and too much pruning can adversely affect the health of the tree.
When you are sure you have good reason to prune a tree and you do so with an awareness of the impact you may have on the health of the tree, it can achieve positive results for both the health and aesthetic of the tree. But the next question we asked our Shropshire tree surgeon, Sid Smallman, to answer was ...
When to Prune Trees?
Most large and strong trees can withstand pruning at any time of year, especially minor pruning done to remove weak, damaged or dead branches. However, heavier pruning takes a greater toll on the tree and timing is more critical.
Trees generally experience a period of growth and development in Spring. This increases their ability to heal and repair wounds quickly and so the best time to prune is just before the flush of Spring. During this flush trees use up a lot of energy and so heavy pruning after Spring can leave the tree struggling to recover.
So ... Sid from Airborne Tree Specialists Ltd has now helped you to understand the reasons to prune, and you know when to prune, but let's now consider ...
How to Prune Trees?
Sid, the Shropshire tree surgeon, explains a few key points that we need to bear in mind before even making the first cut. He tells us that when a branch or a sub-branch grows from the trunk or a parent branch, it's not a separate entity that's just stuck on. The trunk or parent branch itself grows out and forms a collar around the newly formed branch.
At a later date, if you wish to remove that branch, it's important to not cause any unnecessary damage to the trunk or parent branch. Look for the collar around the base of the branch and ensure that you make your cut beyond the collar.
Once you start cutting the weight of the branch can cause it to pull away from the trunk inadvertently ripping the bark and causing damage to the parent structure of the tree. To avoid this heavy branches should be reduced before removing them. From the collar, measure about 1 to 1.5 feet along the branch, and cut from below. Then make a second cut from the top of the branch an inch or two further on. This will allow the branch to be removed leaving a 12-18 inch stump.
Now the stub can safely be removed without causing unnecessary damage to the tree by cutting just beyond the collar at the base of the stub.
The same basic method can be applied to the individual stages of any pruning process, whether cleaning to remove dead and diseased branches, thinning to allow increased light penetration to the inner parts of the tree, raising to reduce risk to passersby from low-hanging boughs, or reduction which decreases the height or spread of a tree where it could interfere with buildings, other trees or overhead power-lines or phone-lines.
After pruning, there is no need to apply a dressing. Recent studies have shown that dressings have no effect on the healing process or in avoiding decay. Most experts recommend that if you do choose to apply dressing for cosmetic purposes it should be only a thin layer of non-toxic material.
Professional Advice
If you have any doubts at all about the health of your tree, unsure whether to prune or don't feel confident about doing the pruning yourself, always seek professional advice from a qualified arboriculturist or tree surgeon.
You can find your nearest qualified tree specialist through the International Society of Arboriculture or find more information on tree care from the ISA-sponsored Trees are Good website.
This article is supplied by Airborne Tree Specialists Ltd. a qualified team of certified arboriculturists and tree surgeons based in Clun near Craven Arms in Shropshire.
Airborne Tree Specialists Ltd. have used their best efforts in preparing their article but they make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this article. The information contained in this article is strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained herein, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.
Airborne Tree Specialists Ltd. shall in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of this material, which is provided “as is”, and without warranties.
