3 Tips For Successful Pruning
Posted on: 2 October 2017
Having trees in your home's landscape is important. Trees help to provide shade and they lend to the natural aesthetic of your property. In order to ensure that your trees serve as an asset to your landscape and don't become a problem, you need to engage in routine pruning.
Pruning a tree the right way allows the tree to grow healthy and strong. Here are three tips that you can use to successfully prune your trees in the future.
1. Keep a single trunk.
When you are pruning your tree, it's important that you identify a single trunk that will run the vertical length of the tree. Most tree species require only one trunk, and having multiple vertical trunks can actually weaken the structure of the tree.
Identify a single leader that will best support your tree, and eliminate any other vertical branches or defective parts before you begin pruning the tree for form.
2. Know when to seal your cuts.
Once you have pruned away unwanted branches, your tree will be left with exposed cuts. Many homeowners think that sealing these cuts is essential, but that's not necessarily true. A healthy tree will typically be able to seal off the cut naturally over time.
You should seal your pruning cuts with liquid pruning sealer if you are pruning during the spring or summer months when your tree is susceptible to insect penetration. You should also make it a point to seal your pruning cuts if you are in a drought, or if you find the cuts to be aesthetically disruptive to your landscape design.
3. Shorten small branches at lateral buds.
It's important that you have a plan when you are pruning your tree. In order to ensure that the form of the tree remains aesthetically pleasing and balanced, you may need to shorten branches. This shortening should be done at lateral buds only.
Lateral buds are shoots that grow out laterally from the main branch. Cutting just above a lateral bud growing in the direction that you want your tree to expand in will ensure that your tree matures in the proper shape.
Being able to properly prune your trees will ensure that your trees remain a beautiful and functional part of your home's landscape. Limit your trees to a single trunk, use liquid pruning sealer only when necessary, and shorten your smaller branches at lateral buds to encourage proper growth in the future. For more information, visit websites like http://www.edmondstree.com.
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