Tree pruning in Mississippi is a professional service that can beautify and reinforce trees so they are able to withstand pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look breathtaking while doing it!
Pruning needs to be done if you want a healthy tree, but it has to be done correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from MS Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small, but you also may be doing permanent damage to the tree.
To safely prune trees, you need to know all of the following:
- When to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree should be pruned at a time
- Where to cut the branches so you do not harm the tree
Taking too much from a tree can kill it or cause structural damage, but minimal trimming done annually benefits trees in a lot of ways. Professional pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, removes dying or diseased limbs and increases fruit or flower production.
Ideally, pruning must be completed each 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 do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call MS Tree Trimming in Mississippi!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier year after year.
Depending on the shape, species and health problems of your trees, one pruning method may be more beneficial than another, but each technique has distinct benefits.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is common for older, overgrown trees in Mississippi. This method removes weak branches within the crown of the tree to improve sunlight and air flow throughout the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.
This tree pruning method also eliminates branches that are touching so they no longer rub up against each other and snap or create weakened areas that can be an entry point for pests. Limbs that grow at odd angles are almost always cut off during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This tree pruning method removes branches at the lower part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk. Letting low branches get too large makes them very difficult to cut off, and they can pull nutrients from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weak tree.
There are a variety of reasons you might choose 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 increase space for landscaping under the tree.
It is a common technique for overgrown trees that are too close to homes and other buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the total size of the crown from its exterior edge. It shortens limbs horizontally and vertically to keep the tree at a certain size. By reducing the size of the crown, you can eliminate the need to cut down the tree because it will no longer interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction can make the tree look neater because it removes irregular growth. This is a smart solution for trees that are a variety of ages but are supposed to look consistent.
Crown Cleaning
Sometimes referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of tree trimming technique that removes dead, snapped or diseased branches so that the remaining sections of the tree may continue to grow normally. These limbs can only cause problems later.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it prevents limbs from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that reduces the chance of branches falling, because healthy branches do not fall very often.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is an advanced pruning technique for trees that were significantly damaged (either by pests or weather). It needs to only be attempted by a certified arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow over time and how long it’s restoration is going to take.
Unlike most other tree trimming services, crown restoration occurs over an extended time period with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. An arborist will have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also 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 want trees to increase curb appeal, you are most likely interested in vista pruning. The goal of vista pruning is to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular vantage point.
It consists of several tree trimming techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – anything that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that a professional will never jeopardize 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 up against walls or a trellis. It is a different style of trimming that is going to draw a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning needs to begin when the tree is very young and then continued very consistently throughout the tree’s life span.
Benefits 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 Mississippi
Tree trimming can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! MS Tree Trimming highly recommends professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.
Aside from the many possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of harm to a tree if you don’t prune it correctly. Excessive pruning is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners caring for their own trees.
Trees in Mississippi that get annual care from a professional are much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from MS Tree Trimming to prune trees on your property is a decision you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Mississippi!
