The spring equinox is here! Now’s the time to get outside and tend to your plants, lawn, and your trees of course! A vital thing you have to do to keep your trees healthy is prune them. Here are some different pruning techniques to optimize growth and longevity:
- Crown Reduction: Crown reduction is when you shorten the length of branches to reduce strain on the tree and lower the chances of the tree being damaged by strong winds. It’s important that you cut back to a healthy lateral branch in order to preserve natural growth patterns.
- Crown Thinning: Crown thinning involves removing branches throughout the crown to improve light penetration and air circulation. Crown thinning is best used for trees that are overgrown. It helps to reduce weight without altering the tree’s shape.
- Crown Raising: Crown raising involves removing the lower branches of a tree to lift its canopy. Try not to remove a lot of lower branches at once as it can leave the tree vulnerable and impact its overall balance.