5 Things to Consider Before You Prune Your Mature Trees
Pruning mature trees requires care and skill. Prune a mature tree the wrong way or for the wrong reasons and you could hurt your tree and your property in the process. But prune your tree the right way, and you can boost the health of your tree while getting the best out of it. If you plan to prune your mature tree, then be sure to consider the following points before you begin.
1. The reason for pruning your tree
Mature trees need their energy to maintain their strength and vigour. This means that if you remove too many branches, your mature tree will struggle to heal. So, only prune your tree if:
- Your tree has become a danger to you or your property.
- Your tree has numerous dead branches.
- Your tree is obstructing a public path or road.
- Your tree has suffered storm damage.
These are all valid reasons to prune a mature tree.
2. The species of your tree
You need to know the species of your mature tree because some trees are more durable than others are in regards to pruning cuts. The species of your tree will also affect the timing of your pruning.
3. The time of pruning
Elm trees and sycamore trees do not respond well to spring pruning. In fact, this is true for many tree species. In general, the best time to prune is winter when trees are dormant. Remember to find out what species of tree you have before you decide to prune. And if you need to urgently prune your mature tree in an unfavourable season, make sure you hire a professional to do the job.
4. The tools at your disposal
To prune a mature tree without harming it, you need to make sure you have the right tools at your disposal. To perform the proper pruning cuts, you need tools such as pruning shears, lopping shears and a chainsaw. And most importantly, these tools should be sharp, not dull. If your tools are dull, you'll only damage your tree as you perform pruning cuts. Cuts should be clean and precise.
5. Your experience
Do you know where to perform pruning cuts? Do you know how to prune a tree to improve its health? If you have little to no experience of tree pruning, you could kill your tree if you attempt to prune it yourself. Hiring a professional to prune your trees will ensure that your trees are pruned properly and safely.
Before you prune a mature tree, be sure to consider the aforementioned points. If you lack experience and equipment, hire a professional to prune your trees. Contact a local tree care service to get started.