Tree pruning in Wisconsin is an important professional service that can beautify and reinforce trees so they are able to fight off pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look breathtaking doing it!
Pruning should be performed if you want healthy trees, but it needs to be done correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune trees safely while they are small, but you also may be doing permanent damage to the tree in the process.
To correctly prune trees, you must know all of the following:
- When is the best time 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 damage the tree
Pruning too much off of a tree could kill it or cause structural damage, but conservative trimming done annually benefits trees in many ways. Pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, eliminates dying or diseased limbs and increases fruit or flower production.
For the best results, pruning must be completed every year, but as trees get older, you may be able to go two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees pruned, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call WI Tree Trimming in Wisconsin!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to properly prune a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger every year.
Depending on the size, species and health concerns of your trees, one method could be more beneficial than another, but each technique has different benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is typical for older, overgrown trees in Wisconsin. This method removes weak branches within the crown to allow more sunlight and air flow within the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.
This tree pruning method also removes branches that are touching so they no longer rub against one another and break or cause weaker areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are usually cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This trimming technique removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them very hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are a variety of reasons you may choose to raise the crown of a tree. Frequently, it is done in order to clear the line of sight for cars and pedestrians, but it can also be done to make space for landscaping under the tree.
It is a common technique for large trees that are close to homes and other buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the total size of the crown from its outer edge. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to keep the tree at a certain size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can remove the need to cut down the tree because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even if the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction can make the tree look much better because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a great idea for trees that are various ages but are supposed to look consistent.
Crown Cleaning
Sometimes known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of trimming method that removes dying, broken or diseased limbs so that the remaining sections of the tree can grow normally. These limbs can only cause problems in the future.
Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look much better, and it stops branches from rubbing together. Plus it is a safety practice that reduces the likelihood of branches falling, since healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced trimming process for trees that have been significantly damaged (either by pests or weather). It needs to only be done by a certified arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow in the future and roughly how long it’s restoration is going to take.
Unlike most other tree trimming services, crown restoration happens during a longer period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. An arborist must have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth pattern.
Vista Pruning
If you are hoping for trees to 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 visually pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It encompasses several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – anything that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist will never sacrifice the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against a wall or a trellis. It is a unique style of trimming that is going to attract a lot of attention to your yard. Espalier pruning should be started when the tree is very young and then done consistently throughout the tree’s life span.
Benefits of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it much easier to harvest fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in Wisconsin
Tree pruning can be harmful to a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! WI Tree Trimming highly recommends professional tree pruning over DIY.
Besides the many 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 common mistakes made by homeowners caring for their own trees.
Trees in Wisconsin that get routine care from a professionals are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming to trim the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of Wisconsin!
