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Tree Trimming/Pruning

Tree pruning and tree trimming are of the two most common tree maintenance procedures. Trees in urban environments require care and attention. Periodic pruning and trimming is essential for these urban trees to function in their habitat and thrive. Pruning is necessary for several reasons. Sometimes trees have to be pruned to maintain structural integrity. Trees also need to be prune to create the proper growth pattern and structure that suits the sites conditions. Trees are also frequently pruned to improve aesthetics. All tree trimming and pruning must be done by an individual that understands the biology and physiology of a tree. Improper pruning procedures can create lasting damage and drastically shorten the tree’s life expectancy. Each cut that is made has the potential to change the growth pattern of the tree and just a single mistake can ruin the tree entirely.

Undercutter Tree Service is dedicated to providing proper pruning. First and foremost we will always keep the trees health in mind. While pruning to meet the trees current needs we will also keep the trees future growth in mind. We understand how trees grow and what influences their growth patterns so we are able to redirect future growth the direction we want it to go.

Reasons to trim/prune:

  • Raising and elevating is the most common type of pruning that we are asked to perform. This type of pruning typically removes the lower branches from a tree to provide clearance for buildings, medical vehicles and pedestrians. It also includes reducing the spread of a tree to provide additional lateral clearance to buildings.

  • Cleaning is the general process for pruning and trimming trees. It is the removal of dead, dying, diseased, crossing, poorly attached, and unhealthy branches from the crown of a tree.

  • Thinning is the process of selectively removing branches to improve the structure of a tree and to increase light penetration and air movement through the crown. Proper thinning opens the foliage of a tree, reduces weight on heavy limbs, and helps retain the tree’s natural shape. Thinning should be concentrated on the outer portions of the canopy, leaving as many branches on the interior crown as possible.

  • Reduction reduces the size of a tree, often for utility line clearance. Reducing a tree’s height or spread is best accomplished by pruning back the leaders and branch terminals to secondary branches that are large enough to assume the terminal roles (at least one-third the diameter of the cut stem). Compared to topping, reduction helps maintain the form and structural integrity of the tree. This is the most common approach to pruning Bradford pear trees.

Our pledge:

1. We do not use Climbing spikes when pruning trees. Spikes cause unnecessarily puncture the vascular system of the tree and possibly compromise its health.

 

2. We never remove more than 20% of a mature trees crown. Mature trees will not react well to excessive pruning and may go into shock.

It is not a good idea to remove limbs larger than 5 inches in diameter. The wounds will have difficulty healing over and will lead to rot in the parent stem.

 

3. We always try to redirect future growth into sufficient sized lateral branches. This will promote growth in a new direction and limit sucker growth

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