The biggest tree in your yard may not enjoy status as one of the most famous trees in the world but that doesn’t make it any less special.

Most people take extra care when selecting trees. They don’t just go to the garden center of a discount store, grab a tree, take it home, and plop it in the ground. That special care includes making sure the tree branches and limbs get the proper pruning.

If you’re not sure you’d know the difference between a correct or incorrect tree pruning, you’re in the right place. Read our short guide and learn how to determine how well your arborist knows how to prune your trees and shrubs.

Is Your Tree Pruned or Trimmed?

Before you can judge whether your tree branches are pruned correctly, it’s helpful to know the difference between pruning and trimming. Although arborists often use the terms interchangeably, these two landscaping services serve different purposes. Also, tree specialists use different tools and timetables for each service.

Pruning improves the health and growth of trees and shrubs. When your tree service prunes a tree they remove infected, broken, and dead branches. Pruning allows you to control the shape and size of your trees and shrubs.

Trimming is primarily used on shrubs and hedges to create a clean look and a more attractive design. It also helps rid bushes of dense overgrowth. Dense bushes don’t receive the proper amount of sunlight or moisture.

If you’ve called your tree specialist because you have a sick tree, they should prune. If you’re mainly concerned about tidying up shrubs and hedges, ask for a trim.

Is There a Proper Way to Prune Tree Branches?

When you use tree trimming services how do you know they’ve done a good job? With a little savvy about what a properly pruned tree looks like, you can inspect their work.

Tree Limbs

If you’re hoping for new growth, look at the cuts made to the small limbs and branches. Look for cuts that sit ¼ above an outer bud.

Thick Branches

Properly pruned tree branches form a callus where the removed branch once was. A callus is critical for tree health.

If pruned correctly, most branches get 3 cuts. The first cuts get rid of weight from the branch. The goal of the third cut is callus growth.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, ask your tree specialist to go over their work and help you understand the pruning process. You’ll also want your tree specialist to know whether it’s the right time to prune your trees.

To Prune or Not to Prune

In the tree world, there’s a time to prune and a time to leave a tree alone. Every tree has its season for pruning. While most trees and shrubs should get a yearly pruning, whether you hope for strong growth or better flower power determines the timing.

If your goal is springtime growth, prune in winter. If you want to create a smaller, or dwarf tree, summer pruning can help train the tree to stay small. To enjoy an increase in flowering capacity, prune a tree or shrub as soon as its blooming cycle ends.

Pruning in summer is especially beneficial for certain fruit trees. Another reason to prune during the summer is pest control. Since most tree pests thrive during summer months, removing any affected limbs or fruit help maintain the overall health of the tree.

Examine the Cuts

Aside from looking at cuts near the bud and watching for callus growth after pruning, you can examine cuts made by the tree specialist and make sure they didn’t make any of the common pruning mistakes. Examine cuts your specialist makes on your trees and look for the following:

Flush Cuts

Cutting a branch off flush with either the bark or a larger branch removes the branch color. The branch collar forms a seal over a pruning cut. Flush cuts leave a tree vulnerable to pests and disease.

Just above the branch collar is the ideal place to make a cut.

Stub Cuts

Unlike flush cuts, which look deceivingly clean, a stub cut leaves behind a protruding stub. The stub prevents the branch collar from growing over the cut.

Can you hang your hat on the branch stub? If so, it’s too long.

Lion Tailing

Watch out for lion tailing — removing the inside branches but leaving growth only on the ends of branches.

Lion tailing sets a tree up for a variety of problems, including sunscald, wind damage, stress-response, and growth sprouts. Because it redistributes weight to the end of the tree branches, it may create a negative impact on the tree’s structure.

A certified arborist knows how to avoid potentially damaging cuts. Learning what to look for helps you, the homeowner, know whether your specialist is truly caring for your trees.

Tree Topping and Other Pruning Mishaps

If you have a tree that’s too tall, you may feel tempted to perform what the arborists call topping. A good arborist would never top a tree. Topping means the top is removed leaving the top branches nothing more than stumps.

Topping a tree can end up costing you a lot of money. You’ll either need to give the tree extra TLC or remove it altogether.

Another pruning mishap is over-pruning. Over-pruned trees can develop structural issue causing them to look abnormal and misshapen when they grow back.

Other signs of incorrect pruning include defoliation, stubs, and bare areas in the tree.

Ready for Tree TLC?

Now that you know a few things about properly pruned tree branches, you’ll feel more confident when scheduling routine tree care.

While we mentioned several things to look out for during and after pruning, the most significant thing to notice is, well, nothing. If your tree is pruned correctly, it shouldn’t look obvious.

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