Tree pruning in South Carolina is an important professional service that beautifies and reinforces trees so they can withstand pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look good while doing it!
Pruning needs to be performed if you want healthy trees, but it must be done correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from SC Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small and developing, but you also may do irreparable harm to the tree.
To safely prune trees, you need to 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 harm the tree
Pruning too much from a tree might kill it or lead to structural damage, but conservative trimming done every year benefits trees in several ways. Professional pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dying or diseased branches and assists in fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning should be done once a year, but as trees mature, you might be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how often you have your trees pruned, ensure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call SC Tree Trimming in South Carolina!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to properly prune a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger every year.
Depending on the size, type and health concerns of your trees, one pruning method could be more beneficial than another, but each technique has distinct benefits to consider.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is common for older, overgrown trees in South Carolina. This process eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to improve light and air flow throughout the crown. Air flow is important to help prevent disease.
This pruning technique also eliminates branches that are touching so they no longer rub up against one another and break or cause weaker areas that can be an entry point for insects and pests. Limbs that grow at strange angles are usually cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This pruning technique only removes branches and limbs at the lower part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are several reasons you might decide to raise the crown of a tree. Many times, it is done to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can be done to make space for landscaping underneath the tree.
It is a common method for large trees that are close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the overall size of the crown from its outer edges. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a manageable size. By reducing the crown size, you can remove the need to chop down the tree because it won’t interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction can help the tree look neater because it removes irregular growth. This is a great idea for trees that are different ages but you want to look consistent.
Crown Cleaning
Often referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive tree pruning method that gets rid of dying, broken or diseased limbs so that the remaining parts of the tree may grow normally. These limbs can only create problems over time.
Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look much better, and it prevents branches from rubbing together. Plus it is a safety practice that lowers the likelihood of branches falling, because healthy branches do not usually fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced pruning process for trees that were severely damaged (either by weather or vandals). It should only be attempted by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is likely to grow over time and roughly how long it’s restoration is going to take.
Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs during an extended time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. An arborist must have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees that add to curb appeal, you are most likely interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It consists of several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – anything that helps the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist is not going to jeopardize the health of a tree, so the focus of vista pruning is still to create strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are pruned heavily to grow flat against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of tree trimming that will attract a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning has to be started when the tree is young and then continued very routinely during 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 exceptionally easier to produce fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in South Carolina
Tree pruning can be harmful to a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! SC Tree Trimming highly encourages professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.
Besides the many 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 common errors made by homeowners maintaining their own trees.
Trees in South Carolina that get annual care from a professional are much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from SC Tree Trimming to prune the 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 South Carolina!
