Pruning is an important task for keeping trees healthy, and strong and look intact, but improper pruning can do more harm than good. Sometimes, it is easy to make common mistakes, but these can actually lead to lasting damage, weakened branches, or increased vulnerability to disease and pests. Whether you’re shaping your tree for tree growth or trimming for safety reasons, understanding the correct methods is important.
Discover some of the most frequent pruning mistakes and how to avoid them to keep your tree thriving.
Prune At The Right Time
Pruning during the winter months, often referred to as the tree’s dormant seasons, is one of the best things that you can do for your tree’s health. When trees are dormant, they aren’t actively growing, which makes winter an ideal time to make cuts that will heal more effectively with less stress to the tree.
Pruning in the winter also allows you to shape the tree without leaves getting in the way, providing a clearer view of the branches and the trees structure.
Avoid In Autumn
While it seems like a good time of the year to start tree pruning as trees start to shed their leaves, it is actually one of the worst times to prune. In autumn, trees are still slowing down from their active growing phase, and pruning can stimulate new growth just when the trees need to conserve energy for the winter. This new growth is often too weak to survive the cold, which can stress the tree and make it more prone to damage.
Dont Cut off Leaves and Flower Buds
When pruning, it’s more than important to not cut off your leaves and flower buds, as they are one of the main factors that impact your tree’s health and growth. Leaves are essential for photosynthesis, this is the process by which trees convert sunlight into energy.
Removing too many leaves from the tree can weaken the tree, limiting its ability to produce the nutrients it needs to bloom. Similarly, cutting off flower buds can deprive the tree of its seasonal blooms, which are important for reproduction and attracting pollinators.
Don’t Prune When Vulnerable To Pests and Diseases
Pruning your trees at the wrong time can expose them to pests and diseases that could cause serious harm. Trees are often most vulnerable to infestations and infections during specific times of the year, particularly in the spring and summer when many pests are active and pathogens thrive. Making cuts during these periods can create open wounds that attract insects and allow diseases to enter the tree’s vascular system.
Perform Pruning Cuts Properly
Executing proper pruning cuts is important for the health and longevity of your trees. The way you make cuts can really influence how well a tree heals and continues to grow, so here are some things to avoid:
No Flush Cuts
Flush cuts, which can occur when a branch is cut too close to the trunk, can severely harm a tree’s health. This cutting technique removes the brand collar (the protective tissue that aids in healing). Without this protective layer, the trees struggle to seal the wound, leaving them vulnerable to pests, diseases, and decay.
No Stub Cuts
Flush cuts are the opposite of flush cuts, it is when the branches are left too long after pruning, which can hinder the tree’s ability to heal properly. These stubs can be entry points for pests and diseases, as they prevent the tree from sealing the wound effectively. Stubs also disrupt the tree’s natural growth, leading to weak, uneven, branches that can pose safety risks.
No Lion Tailing
Lion tailing is a pruning technique that involves removing the inner branches of a tree while leaving the other ones intact, creating a bear appearance along the trunk which is reminiscent of a ‘lion’s tail’. This method is harmful to the tree for a variety of reasons. For example., it exposes the inner branches to excessive sunlight, leading to sunburn and stress on the tree.
No Heading Cuts
Heading cuts involve cutting a branch back to a stub or a bud, which can severely impact the health and structure of the tree. This method stimulates the growth of multiple new shoots from the cut, leading to a dense, bushy appearance that can create weak branches prone to breakage.
