For the techies out there, we thought we’d take a deep dive into the roots of tree pruning, exploring the different techniques and approaches for pruning an overgrown, or hazardous canopy.
Before we start, if you haven’t checked out our other pruning post yet. Go read it. DIY Pruning – Is it a Good Idea?
Right! Here we go.
Structural Pruning
Goal: Maintaining the Size and Shape of Your Trees
Structural pruning is a crucial aspect of tree care that focuses on maintaining the strength and integrity of a tree’s architecture. By addressing and preventing structural issues, this type of pruning encourages healthy growth patterns and minimizes the likelihood of future problems. For homeowners, investing in structural pruning can provide numerous benefits, including improved tree health, enhanced safety, and increased property value. This option. Nice work!
Size Management
Goal: Managing the size of the canopy. light reduction cuts on exterior canopy.
Size management is also a service we provide, managing small or medium-sized trees that are outgrowing their site according to the client’s preferences and maintaining the tree’s health and aesthetic value. We make various reduction cuts to keep the canopy at the desired size.
Restoration pruning
Siskiyou Tree Experts performs restoration pruning for trees that have been topped or pollarded in the past, growing into large canopy trees again. We selectively remove and reduce branches to lessen the load on attachment points, identify decay from past pruning, and restore the canopy to a more natural and safe state for the surrounding environment.
Shrub pruning & topiary pruning
Shrubs – Shrub pruning is an essential aspect of maintaining healthy and attractive landscaping. It involves removing dead, damaged, or overgrown branches to improve a shrub’s overall health, appearance, and growth pattern. Pruning also promotes better air circulation and light penetration, which can help prevent diseases and encourage new growth.
Topiary – When it comes to trimming your topiary, technique and tools are key to maintain the beauty and health of your plants. We don’t always use long-bladed hedge trimmers or hedge shears, as these tools may not provide the necessary precision or allow for accurate cuts from different angles. Instead we use a sharp pair of bypass hand pruners or handheld clipping shears to achieve the best results. These tools enable precise trimming of new growth to the desired length, ensuring your topiary maintains its unique shape and appearance.
Safety Pruning / Risk Mitigation Pruning
Goal: Keeping Your Trees Safe and Healthy
Safety pruning, also known as risk mitigation, is a vital tree pruning technique that focuses on identifying and eliminating dead, dying, or hazardous branches. These limbs can compromise the tree’s structural integrity, posing potential dangers to people and property. By removing dead wood, safety pruning minimizes the likelihood of falling branches from the canopy and ensures the well-being of the surrounding areas. This approach not only maintains the health of your trees but also reduces the risk of accidents.
Crown and Clearance Pruning
Goal: Creating More Space and Light for Your Property
Clearance pruning is a type of tree pruning that involves pruning out or reducing branches to provide clearance from buildings, other trees, children’s play areas, lights, and other structures. By keeping these areas clear, you can help prevent damage to your property and ensure that your property remains accessible and safe for everyone.
Crown Raising
Crown raising is a type of tree pruning that involves pruning out some of the lower limbs to raise the canopy of the tree. This type of pruning is typically done for various reasons, such as providing clearance for people and vehicles, allowing more light to the understory planting, or letting more light into buildings. With crown raising, you can create more space and light for your property while maintaining the health and appearance of your trees.
View enhancements
Tree pruning for view enhancements is a specialized approach to tree maintenance that focuses on improving visibility and preserving the natural beauty of a landscape. This technique involves selectively trimming branches and foliage to create or maintain unobstructed views of scenic vistas, water bodies, or other focal points, without compromising the health and structure of the trees.
View-enhancement pruning requires a balance between maintaining the aesthetics and integrity of the trees while achieving the desired sightlines. We’ll use their expertise to determine the optimal pruning methods and extent of trimming/pruning needed to enhance the view without causing harm to the trees. We often employ techniques such as crown thinning (selective branch removal), windowing, or skirting to achieve the desired effect.
Cabling and Bracing
Cabling and bracing are two common practices performed by tree care companies to help maintain the structural integrity of trees. They are often used to prolong the life of damaged or structurally weak trees, reducing the risk of injury or damage from falling branches or even entire trees. They also help maintain the aesthetics of older or valued trees that might otherwise need to be removed.
Cabling: This involves installing steel or synthetic cables between major limbs to reduce strain and help support the tree. The cables help distribute weight more evenly across the tree, which can prevent splitting in the case of heavy winds, ice, or snow, or even the weight of the tree’s own foliage. This can be particularly helpful in preserving older, large trees or trees with a potentially hazardous branch structure. The cabling is usually installed high in the tree, at least two-thirds of the way up, and is often not visible from the ground. Over time, regular inspections should be performed to ensure the cables remain effective and to adjust as necessary for the tree’s growth.
Bracing: Bracing is a more invasive procedure that involves inserting rods into the tree itself to provide more direct support. This is usually done in addition to cabling when there are serious structural concerns, such as major cracks in the trunk or between limbs. It’s important to note that bracing a tree always involves drilling into the tree, which can cause some damage, so it’s usually only done when the potential benefits outweigh this harm.
RELATED POST: What are the common use cases for cabling and bracing
Both cabling and bracing are specialized procedures that should be performed by trained arborists. Properly installed, they can extend the life of a tree for many years, but they do require ongoing maintenance and inspection. They are not, however, a permanent fix and cannot reverse structural weakness or decay; they simply help manage the risks associated with these conditions. It’s also important to note that not all trees are suitable candidates for cabling and bracing. Each tree should be individually assessed by a professional to determine the best course of action.
Fruit tree pruning
Fruit tree pruning is essential for maintaining tree health and maximizing fruit production. Our expert arborists understand the specific needs of fruit-bearing trees and will tailor their approach to ensure optimal growth and yield. With our fruit tree pruning service, you’ll enjoy more abundant, higher-quality fruit and a healthier tree overall. Learn more about fruit tree pruning
Have questions?
Whether it’s safety pruning to keep your trees safe and healthy or crown raising to create more space and light for your property, the right type of pruning can help your trees thrive. With advanced climbing techniques and safe work practices, our team can provide the highest quality tree pruning services that meet ISA standards.
Contact us today to learn more about our tree pruning services and how we can help you enhance the beauty and health of your trees. Siskiyou Tree Experts offers tree services all over Grants Pass OR and the Rogue Valley.