• Pruning your trees properly is essential in helping them stay healthy. Everyone enjoys the beauty and other benefits trees bring to their yards, but few know how the pruning process works. Below you will find out how to keep them healthy, strong, and beautiful for years to come. This guide is only an introduction to very minor tasks such as on small trees or small tasks near the ground. Refer all other tasks to an arborist, a tree care professional and book them early being prepared to wait. Paying a professional fee is worth every penny, because it could save the life of your tree and your own life also.

Disclaimer: These guides are a fun way to introduce yourself to topics and information. Using this guide is entirely at your own risk. Always consult a tree care professional first on projects and defer all major tasks to them. They can give you a free estimate for work and advise you. Never proceed on any tree that is hazardous no matter how small the task, such as near or touching hydro wires, or even if a branch can accidentally fall onto hydro wires and touch the tree which touches you. It is just not worth your life.

Use common sense always, such as stay away from trees during times of possible lightning strikes, use every safety precaution such as no horseplay when working, don't stand below or near a tree when someone is cutting above, never cut anything large above you without professional help so that it cannot fall on you, etc. Follow directions on your pruning tools eg. don't exceed the capacity of what each tool does or you may just injure the tree or yourself.

Basically, this guide is just for the most minor of trimming tasks only and all else needs to go to a professional such as taking down large branches wider than your tools can handle. Work with another person if doing anything that could be hazardous. Do not be the annual interesting accident statistic working alone on a ladder holding a working chainsaw that landed on top of them.

Hiring a tree professional does also not mean accidents can't happen but they will have the knowledge to follow every safety precaution. Stay well away from them when working. I talked to an arborist who had fallen out of a tree and could not work for a month. No one is immune to accidents but take every possible precaution that you can so that you enjoy your work and results.

Read up about each kind of tree you will deal with in advance in a reference book in your library, or online. Reason being you may mistake all trees to be the same, but some kinds eg. a linden tree need to be trimmed carefully as they tend to grow more and branch out in more directions when trimmed. Know the tendencies of each tree kind.

• It is very important not to damage the branch collar or the branch bark ridge when cutting. Ensure before you begin the cutting steps below that the spot you have chosen does not come into contact with either of these areas.

• Each tree is unique; you should always look up the recommended time for your specific species of tree to be pruned. Included below are some of the most common tree types and when to prune them.

1. Conifers: Conifers can be pruned at any time of the year though pruning during the dormant season can minimize the trees sap.
2. Hardwood trees and shrubs (without flowers): These types of trees and shrubs should be pruned during the dormant season.
3. Flowering trees and shrubs: These types of trees and shrubs should be pruned during the dormant season and right after the tree is finished flowering.

• Proper tools are a must when pruning. Below are listed some of the most common pruning tools and how best to use them.