Tree pruning in Maryland is a landscaping service that beautifies and reinforces trees so they can fight off pests, diseases and severe weather – and look breathtaking doing it!
Pruning needs to be done if you want healthy trees, but it must be done properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from MD Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune trees safely while they are small, but you also may do permanent damage to the tree in the process.
To correctly prune trees, you need to know all of the following:
- When to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree can be pruned at a time
- Where to cut the branches so you do not harm the tree
Cutting too much off of a tree might kill it or result in structural damage, but minimal pruning done each year benefits trees in a lot of ways. Pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, eliminates dying or diseased portions and increases fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning should be completed annually, but as trees mature, you may be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how often you have your trees trimmed, ensure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call MD Tree Trimming in Maryland!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger every year.
Depending on the size, type and health status of your trees, one pruning method could be more effective than another, but each technique has various benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is typical for larger, overgrown trees in Maryland. This method eliminates weak branches within the crown to improve sunlight and air flow within the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.
This pruning technique also gets rid of branches that are touching so they do not rub against one another and snap or create weaker areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Limbs that grow at strange angles are typically removed during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This trimming method removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk. Letting low branches get too large makes them hard to cut off, and they can pull nutrients away from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are several reasons you may decide to raise the crown of a tree. Often, it is done in order to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can be done to free up space for landscaping under the tree.
It is a very common technique for overgrown trees that are too close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the total size of the crown from its outer edge. It shortens branches vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a certain size. By reducing the crown size, you can remove the need to chop down the tree because it will no longer come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction will help the tree look neater because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a good solution for trees that are different ages but are supposed to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Also referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive tree trimming technique that eliminates dying, broken or diseased branches so that the remaining parts of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only create issues later.
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 risk of branches falling, because healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an intense pruning technique for trees that have been significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It needs to only be done by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is likely to grow over time and how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike other tree trimming services, crown restoration happens over a longer period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. The arborist must have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, working with the tree’s new growth pattern.
Vista Pruning
If you are hoping for trees that increase curb appeal, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular vantage point.
It encompasses many tree trimming techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – anything that helps the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist will never compromise the health of a tree, so the focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat against a wall or a trellis. It is a unique style of trimming that will attract a lot of attention to your yard. Espalier pruning should be started when the tree is young and then done routinely during the tree’s life span.
Some of the benefits of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it much easier to produce fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Maryland
Tree pruning can be harmful to a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! MD Tree Trimming highly encourages professional tree trimming over DIY.
Aside from the dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t prune it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical mistakes made by homeowners trimming their own trees.
Trees in Maryland that get routine care from a professionals are usually much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from MD Tree Trimming to prune trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your town in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Maryland!
