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  • Writer's pictureBrian Smith

Tree Trimming and Pruning: The Key Benefits to Know

Updated: May 28, 2020

There are many different benefits of trimming and pruning your trees. You can learn more about tree trimming and pruning here.

Man in tree with chainsaw cutting limbs
Happy Trees

If you want your trees to stay healthy and live for as long as possible, then you need to trim and prune them. In addition, tree trimming also gives your trees the ideal shape.


The better you take care of the trees in your yard, the longer they will last.

Having trees in your yard can add to the aesthetic value of your property. If they aren’t taken care of properly, though, they can become hazards.


Read on to discover the benefits of trimming and pruning your trees.


Types of Tree Trimming

While it may seem like trimming a tree is an easy, straightforward process, there are different types of trimming that can be done. Each of these tree trimming techniques will have an impact on the tree and change how it looks.

The different types of trimming include:


Dead Pruning

To ensure that your tree is as healthy as possible, it’s important to get rid of dead, dying, or diseased branches. Dead pruning is also referred to as crown cleaning. Not only does this type of trimming improve the overall appearance of the tree, but it can also make it safer.

Should your tree have dead branches, these will eventually fall off. When that happens, they could crash into your house, storage shed, electrical wires, or even hit people or pets. Thus, getting rid of dead or dying branches as soon as possible is in your best interest.

When it comes to diseased branches, to keep the rest of your tree healthy, these also need to be removed as soon as possible.


If you’re looking for some tree pruning tips: It’s much easier to remove a few diseased branches than it is to get rid of an entire tree.


Crown Lifting

This type of trimming involves removing low branches in the crown to reduce the mass of larger limbs. The goal is to clear sidewalks and roads and/or to ensure that these branches don’t interfere with your house or other structures on your property.


Crown lifting is recommended for younger plants. If done on older, more mature trees, it could have a negative impact. Since the lower branches in the crown are often the largest and heaviest, removing these from an older tree will create a large wound that the tree may not recover from.


Crown Thinning

For this process, weak branches are removed to open up the canopy. This process allows more light and air to get to the lower limbs of the tree, as well as lightens the load of defective or diseased branches.


When it comes to crown thinning, you need to be careful not to remove too many branches from the center of the tree, as this can impact the tree’s overall structure.


Crown Reduction

This type of trimming involves reducing the tree’s overall height. The goal is to get rid of terminal branches and preserve the main limb. Crown reduction is better suited for younger trees. For older, more mature trees, it’s best to remove the entire limb as opposed to reducing it.


When it comes to tree trimming tips, crown reduction is best left to professionals who know how trees grow. If done incorrectly, there’s a risk that the main branch could start to decay after pruning.


Pollarding

When it comes to pollarding, this is a tree pruning technique that involves removing the upper branches of the tree. The goal is to promote the dense growth of foliage and branches, while also keeping trees at a specific height.


This process begins when the tree is young and continues at regular intervals throughout the lifespan of the tree.


Healthy tree in sunlight
Beautiful healthy tree in sunlight

Reasons Why You Should Trim Your Trees

Trimming and pruning trees is an involved process. If you have a lot of trees on your property, the task might seem like it’s never-ending.


However, there are many benefits and reasons why you should trim and prune your trees on a regular basis. These include the following:


Keeps Your Trees Healthy

Having a large tree in your yard adds something special to your property. Not only does it provide shade, but it also looks really good.


Unfortunately, the older a tree gets, the more nutrients it needs, but it loses the ability to absorb these nutrients from the surrounding soil.


By removing some of the larger branches or getting rid of diseased branches, the tree will be able to better utilize the nutrients so that it can live a longer, healthier life.


In addition, pruning your trees ensures that sunlight can reach the leaves so that photosynthesis can occur. Like pulling nutrients from the ground, being able to get the right amount of sun is essential to keeping your tree healthy, and trimming and pruning the branches helps.


Kansas City Tree Trimmer clearing limbs from power lines
GLS Tree Tech clearing limbs from power lines.

Keeps Your Property Safe

As mentioned, dead branches will eventually fall from the tree. Large branches can cause a lot of damage if they fall onto your home or other structure on your property. They can also cause serious injury if they hit a person or a pet.


Getting rid of dead branches will ensure that your property is as safe as possible and reduce the chances of anything or anyone getting hurt.


Should your tree happen to be near power lines, then it’s incredibly important that the branches get trimmed.


Dead branches can knock down power lines, causing a power outage and the hazard of live wires being on the ground.


During a storm, as the branches blow back and forth or become heavy with moisture, they can get tangled in the lines and cause a power outage. The worst-case scenario is that sparks from downed power lines catch the tree on fire.


To prevent this from happening, it’s a good idea to keep branches away from power lines. Since this can be a dangerous undertaking, it’s in your best interest to leave this trimming job to a professional.


Makes Your Trees Look Good

If you want your tree to look a specific way, then trimming and pruning can help with that endeavor. Engaging in regular Ficus tree pruning means that it will add something unique and sophisticated to your property.


Business owner in front of truck.
Jeremy Howard, owner/operator of GLS.

Work with Professionals

In theory, tree trimming and pruning sound easy. All it involves is cutting down branches that are dead, diseased, or that don’t contribute to the desired shape of the tree.

In practice, it’s much more complicated.


If you don’t remove the branches correctly or you remove too many, this could kill the entire tree. Working with professionals is in your best interest. They’ll know exactly which branches to remove to keep your tree healthy and living for as long as possible.


In addition, a professional also has the right equipment to take on tree pruning and trimming. They also know how to do it safely.


Should you have trees in your yard that need to be trimmed or pruned, contact GLS Lawn & Tree. Our technicians have the skills and expertise to make your trees and property look good.

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