Tree pruning in Kansas is an important professional service that beautifies and reinforces your trees so they can withstand insects, diseases and inclement weather – and look wonderful while doing it!
Pruning must be done if you want healthy trees, but it must be done correctly by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from KS Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are small, but you also may do permanent harm to the tree in the process.
To correctly prune trees, you must know all of the following:
- When is the best time to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree can be trimmed at at once
- Where to cut the branches so you do not harm the tree
Removing too much from a tree could kill it or result in structural damage, but minimal trimming done each year benefits trees in several ways. Pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dying or diseased portions and assists in fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning needs to be performed annually, but as trees get older, you might be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees pruned, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call KS Tree Trimming in Kansas!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier each year.
Depending on the shape, species and health problems of your trees, one method could be more effective than another, but each technique has various benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is popular for older, overgrown trees in Kansas. This process removes weak branches within the crown to improve light and air flow within the crown. Air flow is important to help prevent disease.
This pruning technique also removes branches that are touching so they do not rub against each other and break or cause weakened areas that can be an access point for pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are usually cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This tree trimming method only removes branches and limbs at the lower part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them difficult to remove, and they can draw nutrients from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weak tree.
There are a variety of reasons you may decide to raise the crown of a tree. Often, it is done to clear the line of sight for cars and pedestrians, but it can be done to increase space for landscaping beneath the tree.
It is a common technique for overgrown trees that are close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction lowers the total size of the tree’s crown from its exterior edge. It shortens branches vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a manageable size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can eliminate the need to chop the tree down because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction can make the tree look much better because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a good idea for trees that are different ages but are supposed to look consistent.
Crown Cleaning
Also known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive tree pruning technique that removes dead, broken or diseased limbs so that the rest of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only cause issues over time.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it stops branches from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that lowers the risk of branches falling, since healthy branches do not fall very often.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced trimming method used on trees that were significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It should be performed by an experienced arborist who knows where the tree is likely to grow in the future and just how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike most other tree trimming services, crown restoration occurs throughout an extended time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. An arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees to help improve 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 encompasses several tree trimming techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – any technique that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist will never sacrifice the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to create strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of trimming that is sure to draw a lot of attention to your yard. Espalier pruning has to begin when the tree is very young and then done routinely during the tree’s life span.
Some of the benefits of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it exceptionally easier to harvest fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Kansas
Tree pruning can be harmful to a tree, your lawn, and, of course, for you! KS Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.
Besides the many dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t know how to trim it correctly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners trimming their own trees.
Trees in Kansas that get annual care from a professionals are much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from KS Tree Trimming to prune the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Kansas!
