Tree pruning in Michigan is a landscaping service that beautifies and reinforces your trees so they can withstand insects, diseases and inclement weather – and look breathtaking doing it!
Pruning should be performed if you want a healthy tree, but it must be done properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from MI Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune trees safely while they are small and developing, but you also may be doing permanent damage to the tree.
To correctly prune trees, you should know all of the following:
- When is the best time to prune your species of trees
- How much of the tree should be trimmed at at once
- Where to cut the branches so you do not damage the tree
Cutting too much from a tree can kill it or cause structural damage, but minimal trimming done every year benefits trees in several ways. Professional pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dead or diseased branches and expedites fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning must be completed every year, but as trees get older, you may be able to wait two years between pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees trimmed, be sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call MI Tree Trimming in Michigan!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to properly trim a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier every year.
Depending on the size, type and health status of your trees, one pruning method may be more effective than another, but each technique has distinct benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is typical for larger, overgrown trees in Michigan. This technique removes weak branches within the crown of the tree to improve light and air flow through the crown. Air flow is especially important for disease prevention.
This tree pruning method also eliminates branches that are touching so they do not rub up against one another and break or cause weakened areas that can be an entry point for insects and pests. Limbs that grow at odd angles are typically removed during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This tree pruning technique only removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weak tree.
There are several reasons you might decide to raise the crown of a tree. Many times, it is done in order to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can be done to make space for landscaping under the tree.
It is a very common method for large trees that are close to homes and other buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction lowers the total size of the crown from its exterior edges. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to keep the tree at a certain size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can eliminate the need to chop the tree down because it will no longer interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t near structures like these, crown reduction will make the tree look much better because it eliminates irregular growth. This is a great idea for trees that are a variety of ages but are supposed to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Also referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive tree pruning method that removes dead, broken or diseased limbs so that the remaining parts of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only cause problems over time.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it prevents limbs from rubbing together. Plus it is a safety practice that lowers the likelihood of branches falling, since healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is a focused trimming technique for trees that have been significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It needs to be performed by an experienced arborist who knows where the tree is likely to grow in the future and how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike other tree pruning services, crown restoration happens throughout an extended period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. An arborist should have a 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.
Vista Pruning
If you are looking for trees that help improve the overall beauty of your landscaping, you are most likely interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular vantage point.
It consists of several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – 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 create strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of trimming that will attract a lot of attention to your lawn. Espalier pruning must be started when the tree is very young and then continued very routinely during the tree’s life span.
of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to get to the trees, as well as making it much easier to produce fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Michigan
Tree pruning can be dangerous for a tree, your lawn, and, of course, for you! MI Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.
Besides the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t know how to prune it correctly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners trimming their own trees.
Trees in Michigan that get routine care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from MI 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 Michigan!
