Trees add beauty and value to property, and it’s important that they stay healthy and look their best. Regular pruning or prunning is essential to a tree’s health and longevity, but it also offers other benefits, such as improving the look of your landscape and deterring pest infestation and damage.
1. Improves Aesthetics
When trees aren’t trimmed regularly, they tend to grow unevenly and become misshapen. This not only impacts a tree’s appearance, but it can also cause other problems such as reduced air circulation and an increase in the risk of structural failure or disease.
By removing dead or diseased branches, pruning allows trees to redirect their resources to healthy growth. It’s a simple, but effective way to promote overall tree health and vigor, helping them resist diseases and insects more effectively.
2. Increases Visibility and Safety
Properly trimmed trees are less likely to suffer from storm damage or breakage, which makes them safer for people, pets, and vehicles. Overgrown or weak limbs are more vulnerable to damage during high winds or severe weather conditions, and can easily fall onto homes or other structures. Regular pruning and prunning reduces this risk by removing weak limbs before they can cause damage or injury.
3. Decreases Insect and Pest Attraction
Overgrown or unhealthy trees attract a variety of insects and pests, including harmful species that can threaten the health and safety of your property. By keeping a close eye on your landscape, you can identify and remove any insect infestations or other pest concerns as they arise. Regular trimming also helps control the spread of pests by limiting their access to your home through overhanging limbs.
4. Increases Photosynthesis
By cutting away excess leaves, you can help trees absorb more nutrients from the soil and ground, allowing them to maintain a healthy, balanced growth. This is particularly important for large trees, as it can be difficult for them to get enough sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.
5. Improves Overall Tree Structure
Over time, a tree can develop weak limbs that are more prone to breaking or being blown away in windy conditions. In addition, a tree that isn’t properly staked may be more prone to girdling, in which the main trunk or roots are constricted or damaged by contact with other objects.
Regular pruning will allow the roots of a tree to expand and grow freely, which can help them maintain their shape and size. It can also reduce the chance of limbs falling on or near your home, or obstructing power lines or other structures.
Most trees, including shade and fruit-bearing varieties, can benefit from thinning cuts, which involve removing live branches to reduce the density of a plant without affecting its general appearance. These types of cuts are typically made with shears or a saw, and are generally performed in the dormant season to minimize stress on the plant and prevent infection. However, some trees such as oaks and maples require specialized techniques, like staking, to support their growth and avoid girdling.
