Why should a homeowner prune their trees from time to time or hire an arborist? Pruning a tree may be necessary to prevent branches from rubbing against each other, to remove limbs from interfering with electrical lines, building facades, windows and obstructing sidewalks. While it may be necessary to remove damaged or diseased tree limbs by pruning, it may be necessary to trim branches and train trees.
Pruning may require homeowners to prune a tree on the ground without using a ladder. However, homeowners may need an arborist to trim mature trees because the branches that need pruning may not be accessible via a ladder. These tree trimmers have special equipment to actually climb into the trees to trim and prune.
Why Pruning Trees is an Art
Tree pruning may require a specialist who is knowledgeable about how to safely remove certain branches so that they open up a view, such as provide a lake view from a cottage. This type of pruning of a tree is known as vista pruning and is done more for aesthetics rather than true maintenance. Crown restoration is also a skill that an arborist has that is part skill and also part art. This type of pruning helps improve the structure, form, and appearance of a tree that is disfigured because it has been vandalized, been severely pruned or is damaged in a storm. This may mean pruning is done over a period of time, in order to improve the tree’s overall appearance.
What other ways may an arborist use to improve a tree’s appearance? By selectively removing limbs, this allows more light and air to come through a tree’s branches. This type of tree pruning may be used to direct sunlight into reflective pools or onto decks in the summertime. It may also mean a tree is less likely to be damaged by a storm.
Where the Science of Tree Pruning Is
Tree pruning helps reduce pest problems and also promotes good tree health overall. An arborist can look at your landscape and detect where problems may be early on before your trees become diseased and need treatment. Why are arborists able to detect problems quickly and efficiently? They have been especially trained to recognize the signs of molds, beetles, and other diseases which may affect a variety of trees. Arborists may use chemicals at certain times in order to protect against the bagworm, for example. However, arborists may use an integrated pest management approach in order to keep pruned trees healthy. How do they do this? They may use a cultural, mechanical, and also biological tree controls in order to care for trees. This means an arborist may recommend trees that are native to the area a business owner or homeowner lives that is hearty. They may also recommend bracing for pruned trees or using stakes for very young, newly planted trees. This is why tree pruning is partly a science and also partly an art for any well-trained arborist.