Pruning Your Trees for the Spring

It’s spring, and time to once again tend to property’s pruning needs. The obvious reasons for tree pruning are the removal of dead branches, removal of crowded or rubbing limbs and to eliminate potential hazards to people and animals. The truth is coexisting in any environment where people are present means that trees will have to be modified on occasion. Thus trees will be able to enhance other landscaping and lawns. Maintaining the beauty and health of your trees can enhance the economic and aesthetic value of your property for years to come.Why Prune?Most tree pruning is done to remove weak, diseased, dying or dead limbs. Best practices would be to prune before the spring where growth can be maximized and pruning wounds have a chance to heal before the growth flush of spring. However, pruning during spring can prepare your trees for the seasons to follow. Heavy pruning after spring growth is never a good idea because your trees have spent an enormous amount of energy to produce foliage.To maintain the health, attractiveness and safety of your trees, the most common techniques include:

• Cleaning ­– removes dead, dying or diseased limbs and branches from the tree’s crown
• Thinning – removes selective branches to allow light to penetrate and increased air movement
• Raising – removes a tree’s lower branches to provide clearance for buildings, pedestrians and clear vistas
• Reduction – used to reduce a tree’s size, height or spread, to clear for utility lines

How Much Pruning is Required?A tree’s size usually determines the degree of pruning. Younger trees respond better to pruning than older trees. Maintaining a tree’s distribution of foliage is important. Over pruning and excessive thinning can affect the tree’s sugar producing capabilities and create limbs that are tip-heavy. Trees that are mature usually require little pruning. The older a tree, the harder it is for a wound to close and heal. Pruning for older trees should only be done when there are dead limbs that are potentially hazardous.Without the knowledge that tree experts possess, it’s hard to know what, how and when to prune trees. That’s why we recommend calling the tree experts at Wauson Tree Service who can give you a free estimation of the work that needs to be done to keep your trees healthy. For over fifty years, we’ve helped Dallas residents maintain their property values by pruning for the benefits of tree heath and beauty. And if we do the maintenance you can count on us not to sub-contract the work, which means that savings can be passed on to our customers.Just call us at 214-450-8720. If we don’t answer leave a voicemail and we’ll get right back to you. You can also email us at walt {at} wausontreeservice {dot} com. Call us today.