Pruning Tips

Improper pruning of trees and shrubs can be more damaging than no pruning at all. Making proper pruning cuts is probably the most important part of the entire job.

A tree in the forest differs greatly from the tree you select as a specimen for your yard. Nature has no reason to grow trees that fit our expectations for safety, appearance, and longevity. A well-formed tree does not happen by accident. Trees selected for use in the landscape need guided care to grow into healthy, attractive and safe specimens.

Trees are an energy producing and storage system. Over-pruning stresses the tree’s ability to function efficiently, which leads to poor tree health and decline. The more we learn about trees the more apparent it has become that some traditional pruning practices are more detrimental than beneficial.

Tree cabling involves the installation of hardware that is intended to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure. Support cables are used to reduce storm damage by limiting the lateral movement of branches and increasing the stress loads that the supported branch union can sustain.