Tree pruning in Nebraska is an important landscaping service that can beautify and reinforce trees so they will withstand insects, diseases and severe weather – and look wonderful while doing it!
Pruning must be done 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 NE Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune trees safely while they are small and growing, but you also may be doing irreparable harm to the tree in the process.
To safely prune trees, you should know all of the following:
- When to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree should be pruned at at once
- Where to cut each branch so you do not damage the tree
Pruning too much off of a tree can kill it or cause structural damage, but precise pruning done annually benefits trees in many ways. Pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, removes dying or diseased portions and increases fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning should be completed once a year, but as trees mature, you may be able to wait two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how often you have your trees trimmed, be sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call NE Tree Trimming in Nebraska!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to correctly trim a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger each year.
Depending on the size, species and health concerns of your trees, one pruning method could be more beneficial than another, but each technique has different benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is popular for older, overgrown trees in Nebraska. This method eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow through the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.
This pruning technique also eliminates branches and limbs that are touching so they do not rub up against each other and snap or cause weaker areas that can be an entry point for insects and pests. Branches that grow at odd angles are typically removed during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This tree pruning technique only removes branches at the lower part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Letting low branches get too large makes them difficult to cut off, and they can pull nutrients from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weak tree.
There are several 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 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 reduces the total size of the tree’s crown from its outer edges. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a certain size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can eliminate the need to cut down the tree because it won’t interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even if the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction will help the tree look neater because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a smart idea for trees that are different ages but are supposed to look consistent.
Crown Cleaning
Sometimes known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive pruning technique that eliminates dead, broken or diseased branches so that the rest of the tree can continue to grow normally. These limbs can only cause issues in the future.
Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look a lot better, and it stops branches from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that reduces the chance of falling branches, since healthy branches do not usually fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an intense trimming method for trees that have been severely damaged (either by pests or weather). It must be attempted by a certified arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow in the future and roughly just how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs over a longer period of time with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. Your arborist should have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree begins to grow and reshape on its own, working with the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees to increase the 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 vantage point.
It encompasses several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – any technique that helps the trees look more attractive. Remember, though, that a professional is not going to 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 against walls or a trellis. It is a different style of trimming that will attract a lot of attention to your lawn. Espalier pruning must begin when the tree is young and then done consistently throughout the tree’s life span.
Benefits of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it easier to harvest fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Nebraska
Tree pruning can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! NE Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree pruning over attempting DIY.
Aside from the many dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of harm to a tree if you don’t prune it correctly. Over-pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners maintaining their own trees.
Trees in Nebraska that get routine care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from NE Tree Trimming to care for the trees on your property is a decision you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Nebraska!
