Learn How to Prune Your Trees for Maximum Health and Appearance

Pruning trees effectively is an important factor for ensuring the health of your trees and keeping them looking their best. With the right tools and safety precautions, anyone can prune their trees safely and reliably.

One key tool for successfully pruning a tree is the tree pruner. This powerful tool typically comes in two forms, either with a blade housed in a hook or with a saw blade at the end of a telescoping extendible pole.

Step 1: Select the Branches

Before you start pruning your tree, you need to know what branches you’d like to prune and why. Common reasons include promoting tree health, improving aesthetical appeal, and eliminating safety hazards. Located the branches that are diseased, damaged, dead, rubbing against each other, or those that don’t look natural. It’s important to remember that once you cut a branch, you cannot reattach it back in place, so take time to plan your pruning.

Step 2: Choose the Right Time

It’s much easier to shape the tree when there aren’t leaves in the way, so naturally prune your tree during the winter or early spring when the tree has shed most, if not all of its leaves. This is also a great time to remove any dead or diseased branches before the new growth appears in late spring.

Step 3: Handle Your Tree Pruner

When you’re ready to start pruning, get the tree pruner and lift it slowly towards the branch you want to cut. For pruners with blades housed in hooks, place the pruner close to the branch and pull the rope so the blade cuts through the branch. For pruners with saw blades, saw slowly and steadily. If you’re using a telescopic extendible pruner, extend it until you reach the desired height and tight it securely, as it can be stressful on your back. Additionally, check if the blades are sharp and replace them if necessary. Using dull blades will give a jagged edge rather than a smooth cut.

Step 4: Prune Inside the Node

One tip to remember when pruning is to try and prune inside the node of the branch. Doing this will give you a shorter branch, while pruning outside the node will result in a longer branch. Also, try not to cut a branch too close to the tree, as this will take longer for the tree to heal.

Step 5: Be Safety Conscious

No matter how experienced or inexperienced you are with pruning trees, always remember to take safety precautions and use the right tools. Wear protective gloves on your hands and protective goggles on your face, and ensure that you are not standing directly underneath the branch you are cutting.

When pruned carefully and properly, your tree will be more healthy, beautiful, and safe. With the right tree pruner and some basic safety precautions, pruning your tree can be an easy and fun process. Just remember to plan your pruning and take your time.