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Pruning Services
Trees are an Asset
They can add considerable value to a property. Poorly maintained trees, however, can become a huge liability. Protect your assets! Keep your trees, property, and everyone around them safe! Pruning is the process of removing undesirable branches that are dead, weakened or diseased and when properly pruned the longevity of your tree increases. Proper pruning improves overall health, appearance and safety of your tree and surrounding environment. Let our ISA Certified Arborists take a look at your trees and determine which of the following types of pruning services are best for your trees.
Crown Cleaning
Most trees (especially large ones) should be pruned at least every other year to remove dead, dying, or damaged branches, that could otherwise fall out of the tree causing damage to property or personal injury. When we propose crown cleaning, we are referring to these potentially hazardous branches 2” in diameter or greater.
Crown Reduction
In most cases, the overall size of a trees canopy can be reduced by cutting long branches back to shorter, lateral branches. As long as the diameter of the lateral branch is no less in size than one third of the branch you are removing, the trees health and integrity should not be compromised. Typically a 30% reduction in overall canopy size is possible, but every tree is different, and sometimes a yearly management program is needed to achieve the goal of a smaller tree.
Crown Restoration
What if you have a “topped” tree and you want it to look natural again? Well, sometimes crown restoration is an option. This is the process of selectively removing branches based on their attachment, the amount of decay or damage they have, their decay compartmentalization, and their growth habit. The goal is to establish a new canopy that is strong and healthy, and will eventually return to its true form or growth habit. This isn't something that happens immediately. This is a process that can take several pruning cycles. The process and amount of time needed to achieve this goal is dictated solely by the tree, and determined on a case by case basis.
Thinning
During this service we selectively remove branches to decrease the density of a trees canopy. By doing this we allow sunlight and airflow to enter into the canopy which can greatly reduce pests, such as molds and fungi, and better facilitate fruit production. This practice also reduces “wind sail”, which, in turn, protects the trees structural integrity.
Pruning for Fruit Production
The idea behind this technique is to train a form that is strong enough to bear fruit. Every species has its own needs, and some species will bear more fruit on branches set at different angles (apples seem to bear most fruit on horizontal branches, while peaches prefer branches emerging at an upward, 45 degree angle.) Some trees bear fruit on old growth, while others bear on new growth. The time of year in which you prune a fruit tree can affect its annual production. Some trees prefer to not be pruned at all. Avocados, for instance, are typically sensitive to pruning. Even when done minimally at the right time of year, pruning can prevent the tree from fruiting that year. However, a strong form is vital in preserving your fruit trees, so a year of missed fruit is a small sacrifice.
