Dave Lund Tree Service and Forestry Co Ltd. New

Tree pruning is probably one of the most common tree maintenance procedures around. If you have trees in your yard, then having them pruned can dramatically improve their health, thus extending their lifespan as well as make them look aesthetically pleasing.

However, there are still people out there who have very little information about tree pruning and sometimes confuse it with other procedures. Pruning must be done with a proper understanding of tree biology and doing it improperly can create lasting damage, or worse, shorten the tree’s life. In addition, some misconceptions that center around pruning as dangerous to trees have caused some people to avoid it.

Therefore there is a need to properly identify these tree pruning myths and have them debunked before more people mistakenly follow them and cause harm to their precious trees.

Separating Fact From Fiction 

There are several misconceptions about pruning that have been spread by skeptics as well as people who have no idea what the process really is. Be wary of the tree pruning myths listed below as they are the most common.

1. Trees Don’t Need Pruning to be Healthy

While this statement may be true for forest trees, it’s an entirely different story for landscape trees. Nature has its own way of pruning trees in the forest; however, this does not extend to trees located in urban or suburban gardens.

Suburban trees require manual pruning so they remain healthy and maintain their natural form. Furthermore, pruning is necessary for reducing safety risks. It reduces the growth of hazardous branches that can cause property damage, interfere with traffic, or accidentally injure passersby.

2. Tree Topping Is More Effective Than Pruning

This is one of the most common misconceptions regarding pruning, and probably the most damaging as it endangers a tree’s health. Tree topping is the practice of shortening a tree by cutting all or most of the large branches. The ones which are generally removed are the central stem, called the leader, and the main upper branches.

Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that tree topping can leave a tree permanently damaged and disfigured as well as other adverse effects. The ill-effects resulting from the practice are as follows:

• Tree topping removes as much as 50 to 100% of a tree’s leaf-bearing crown. With fewer leaves to carry out photosynthesis, the tree is starved of food and nutrients it needs for survival. This will eventually cause the tree to be in a severely weakened state or in worse cases, die.

• It leaves large, slow-healing wounds on the tree. These are entry points for harmful insects and disease-causing organisms such as fungi.

• The tree becomes susceptible to sunscald, scorching, and peeling bark since its central parts are fully exposed to strong sunlight.

• Shrubs and nearby plants that once benefited from the shade offered by the tree are now fully exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight which will eventually dry them out.

• Topped trees aren’t aesthetically pleasing to look at. Also, it will never again regain its original shape.

• Tree topping encourages the rapid growth of unsightly water sprouts and suckers that further ruin your tree’s appearance as well as make it bigger than the original size.

The negative effects brought about by tree topping renders it less effective and less safe than tree pruning.

3. Pruning Trees During Summer Is Harmful

Another common myth being propagated is that pruning trees during the summer is harmful. On the contrary, having your tree pruned at this time of year will have no negative effects whatsoever.

In fact, pruning during the summer can be quite healthy for the tree with benefits such as:

• Getting rid of dead and dry leaves and branches can help improve the appearance of your tree.
• Pruning can free up water and nutrients that were being sapped by dead branches and can now be utilized by the healthy ones.
• Water sprouts and suckers grow rapidly during the summer, so pruning this time of the year is the perfect opportunity to control their growth.

4. Shade Trees and Fruit Trees Should Be Pruned in the Same Manner

Trees come in various shapes and sizes. Successfully caring for a species using one method does not necessarily mean this method will work on another. Different plants require varying levels of soil acidity, humidity, and sun exposure. It’s the same for pruning; there is no one-size-fits-all technique.

Shade trees, for example, should not be pruned the same way as their fruit-bearing cousins are. Fruit-bearing trees are pruned every year, usually during their dormant period, in order to stimulate fruit production. On the other hand, shade trees are pruned less frequently, every few years at most, to encourage the growth of selected branches.

5. Cutting Close to the Tree Trunk Helps the Wounds Heal

One of the most dangerous myths about pruning is the belief that cutting close to the tree trunk will help wounds heal faster. Under any circumstances, do not do this because you’ll end up doing more harm than good.

A proper thinning cut is located outside the branch bark ridge and branch collar which can be easily identified by the elevated or humped area near the point of attachment. This region contains the tissues responsible for wound closure and any cut made to this area can hamper your tree’s healing ability.

In order to avoid dangerous accidental cuts, always hire professional arborists to do your pruning.

6. Pruning in Early Spring Is Dangerous to a Tree’s Health 

Contrary to this belief, sap bleeding from the tree when pruned in spring does not cause any significant damage. In fact, it is normal for some species of trees, such as birch and maple, to exude excessive amounts of sap when being pruned at this time of year.

Adhering to misconceptions surrounding pruning can cause irreversible damage to your trees — no matter the species. Pruning is vital to maintaining the health and longevity of your trees. However, this must be done with a proper understanding of the process, as well as the skills and equipment to execute it safely.

For professional tree pruning services, call Dave Lund Tree Service & Forestry Co. Ltd. at 1-800-363-0511 today!