Tree pruning in West Virginia is a professional service that beautifies and reinforces trees so they are able to fight off insects, diseases and inclement weather – and look breathtaking doing it!
Pruning must be completed if you want healthy trees, but it has to be done properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from WV Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small and growing, but you also may do permanent damage 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 species of trees
- How much of the tree can be trimmed at a time
- Where to cut the branches so you do not damage the tree
Cutting too much from a tree could kill it or cause structural damage, but minimal trimming done annually benefits trees in several ways. Professional pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, eliminates dying or diseased branches and increases fruit or flower production.
Ideally, pruning must be performed annually, but as trees mature, you may be able to wait two years between pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees trimmed, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call WV Tree Trimming in West Virginia!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to properly trim a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger each year.
Depending on the size, type and health status of your trees, one pruning method could be more beneficial than another, but each technique has various benefits to consider.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is typical for older, overgrown trees in West Virginia. This process removes weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow within the crown. Air flow is important for disease prevention.
This tree pruning technique also eliminates branches and limbs that are touching so they no longer rub against one another and break or cause weaker areas that can be an entry point for pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are typically cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This tree pruning method 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 large makes them very difficult to remove, and they can pull nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are several reasons you might choose to raise the crown of a tree. Many times, it is done to clear the line of sight for cars and pedestrians, but it can be done to create space for landscaping beneath the tree.
It is a very common technique for large trees that are too close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction lowers the overall size of the crown from its exterior edge. It shortens branches vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a certain size. By reducing the size of the crown, you can remove the need to chop down the tree because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even if the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction can make the tree look neater because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a great solution for trees that are various ages but are supposed to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Also referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of trimming method that gets rid of dying, snapped or diseased branches so that the remaining parts of the tree will continue to grow normally. These branches can only create issues later.
Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look a lot better, and it stops branches from rubbing together. And it is a safety practice that reduces the chance of branches falling, because healthy branches do not fall very often.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an intense trimming process used on trees that were significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It must be attempted by an experienced arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow in the future and roughly just how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike other tree pruning services, crown restoration happens during an extended period of time with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. The arborist must have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, working with the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you are striving for trees that add to the overall beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It consists of many tree trimming techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – any technique that helps the trees look more attractive. Remember, though, that an arborist 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 heavily pruned to grow flat against walls or a trellis. It is a different style of tree trimming that is sure to draw a lot of attention to your yard. Espalier pruning has to begin when the tree is young and then done routinely throughout the tree’s life span.
Some of the benefits of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to get to the trees, as well as making it much easier to produce fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in West Virginia
Tree trimming can be dangerous for a tree, your lawn, and, of course, for you! WV Tree Trimming highly recommends professional tree pruning over attempting DIY.
Besides the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of harm to a tree if you don’t trim it correctly. Over-pruning is one of the most typical mistakes made by homeowners trimming their own trees.
Trees in West Virginia that get routine care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from WV Tree Trimming to care for trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of West Virginia!
