Trees in the urban environment require care to maintain their safety and aesthetics. Placed outside of their natural habitat, their growth habits are changed dramatically. Pruning should be done with knowledge about the individual tree and tree biology as a whole.

     Improper pruning cuts can cause irreparable damage to a tree. It can make changes to a trees form, cause stress and decline, and in some cases, result in death. Making cuts on a tree can alter the way in which a tree behaves, stores food reserves, uses water and defends itself against attack. So no branches should be removed without a reason. Our Arborists understand how a tree will respond to the cuts that are made.

       The way in which a tree is pruned and when, varies throughout its stages of life. Younger trees are usually more vigorous and respond to cuts very differently from mature trees. Young trees are generally pruned for a strong scaffold structure, trunk development and permanent branch selection. These things give the adolescent tree a good form to grow into, that requires little corrective procedure as they mature.

       Mature trees, as with mature people, are usually not so quick to respond to wounds. Therefore, deliberate care must be taken in choosing which branches should be removed… if any. The amount of live tissue that should be removed in a pruning procedure depends on many variables such as the trees size, species, age, and of course, the objective. Common reasons for pruning mature trees include: to remove dead and dying limbs, crowded, twisted or rubbing limbs; eliminate hazardous limbs; and to shorten or reduce the weight of limbs that are long and heavy.

       Mature trees may also be pruned to allow for light and air penetration either to the inside of the trees crown or to the landscape and buildings below.

        Proper pruning, with an understanding of tree biology, can maintain good tree health and structure whilst enhancing the aesthetic and economic value of your landscape.