April 30, 2017

One of the most important aspects of maintaining a commercial landscape is to keep it neat and organized in a way that will draw attention. No doubt, you would have to incorporate trees in your landscape. Over time, the trees require pruning to keep them looking their best and healthy so that they can thrive during the growing season. However, it’s important to know the proper way to prune your trees. Here are some tips on properly pruning trees for your commercial landscape.

Use Proper Pruning Tools

To successfully prune your trees, it is absolutely essential to have the right pruning tools. If your trees are small, you should use hand shears that are similar to scissors. For larger trees, there are bigger pruning shears. Your tools should always be kept clean and must have sharpened blades. A dull blade can damage your trees and prevent them from properly growing or blooming buds.

 

Make Cuts Carefully

You should always prune a tree from just outside of the collar of the branch. Cuts should also be made carefully so that you don’t harm the tree. The cuts should also be made at a slant instead of straight. That helps the tree to breathe after pruning is done. Avoid making any cuts that are too large, especially when the branch collar can easily suffer damage.

When you are merely shortening a branch instead of completely removing it, prune it to the lateral branch. It will help to avoid problems such as stem decay and branches growing in abnormal directions.

 

What to Cut When Pruning

The entire purpose of pruning a tree is to cut away any dead or diseased wood so that it can thrive afterward. In some cases, it is also for aesthetic purposes so that it can maintain a specific shape, something that is certainly considered when you have a commercial landscape. Eliminating dead and diseased branches on your trees will ensure that the plants can remain healthy or be restored to their best health.

Always Prune at the Right Time

Of course, you must do your tree pruning at the appropriate time of year. In the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, the best time to prune is from late fall to early spring. This time is optimal because the tree is in its dormant phase and there is less possibility of the tree being infested by insects or developing diseases. In addition, there is easier access to the branches, because the tree is bare during the dormant period.

 

Wound Dressing

Sometimes, wound dressing is necessary after pruning a tree. This entails adding a dressing or pruning paint to any cuts made that are larger than one inch in diameter. The purpose of a wound dressing is to protect the tree after pruning to prevent issues of disease or damage done by insects. At the same time, however, many arborists believe that wound dressing can actually slow the healing process. In most cases, it is only used when a tree already has a disease to prevent that disease from spreading after an afflicted tree has been pruned.

 

These are things to keep in mind when you have to prune trees in your landscape. You may want to practice before you do your pruning or hire a professional to be on the safe side.