Discover 4 effective methods of tree pruning to control the growth of your trees

Pruning the dead, dying, or diseased branches and the branches that rub together helps maintain healthier plants and safer spaces. In addition, different methods of tree pruning also encourage fruiting and flowering and allow you to shape plants in specific forms. Here’s a list of effective tree-pruning methods to help you control your tree’s growth.

Tree Pruning Methods

• Different tree pruning methods can be used to improve the health and shape of a tree. Air circulation, good light, and strength are the main goals of tree pruning. There are four popularly used methods for effective tree pruning.

Each method involves the crown of the tree. This is because the tree crown is an essential part of the tree that produces leaves for photosynthesis. A strong crown leads to a healthy tree. Let’s discuss each of these methods in detail.

Crown Thinning

• This method involves removing specific healthy branches to reduce the density of a tree. Crown thinning is commonly performed on mature trees to help increase air circulation and sunlight penetration. The stress on the limbs caused by wind, snow, or gravity can also be reduced by crown thinning.

Ensure that thinning is consistent throughout the tree because the goal is not to change the shape or size of the tree. Therefore, only up to 20% of the branches from the edge of the canopy should be removed. Ornamental and fruit trees can be thinned by pruning smaller limbs and ¼ to ½ inch thick.

Crown Raising

• The purpose of crown raising is to lift the hanging or bottom edge of the tree limbs. This can be done to clear up the space for traffic and buildings or to optimize the view. This method is performed gradually over a long period. However, too many branches should not be removed all at once as this could weaken the tree.

Prune every year to remove only a few limbs. While you prune, it is essential to take a few steps back and check the overall balance of the tree. Ensure that the live crown makes up 60% of the tree. The tree can become weaker if the trunk begins to go over 40%. Most solid and healthy conifers are balanced at a 50% trunk and 50% crown ratio.

Crown Reduction

• Crown reduction is another effective tree pruning method typically used on more mature or older trees. It encourages new growth while strengthening the tree. This method removes the tree branch back to a growing lateral branch. In the growing season, the lateral branch becomes part of the new tree crown.

Crow reduction is a comparatively gentle alternative to tree topping. The lesser part of the crown is removed, and old growth is left for structure. Crown reduction helps remove old growth and encourage new growth.

Crown Cleaning

• Cleaning dead, broken, and diseased branches of trees during trimming is called crown cleaning. It can be done as a part of crown raising, thinning, or reduction. Another plus about crown cleaning is that it can be performed any time. Crown cleaning helps strengthen the overall tree. Furthermore, it prevents potential damage to the tree and surrounding property and increases the safety of the landscaping.

Get More Info On Methods of Tree Pruning From Experts

If you are looking for the best pruning and tree removal services for your trees, get in touch with American Tree Experts Inc today. We are a group of tree experts working in Montclair, New Jersey. Call us today at 973-744-6091, and we will give you a fantastic quote for free.