• 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.

1. See Disclaimer above and follow it. Assess your situation carefully before starting each time and plan carefully. Remember, this is a general introductory guide for fun and consult a professional arborist/tree professional first.
2. Every cut made has the potential to change how the tree will look and grow.
3. Proper cutting technique is essential if you want your tree to live and flourish.
4. Trees cannot heal the way humans heal. One poorly made cut could cost the tree its life. If the tree is injured, it will grow over and seal the wound inside of itself, a process that forever encloses the wound inside of the tree.
5. Small cuts do less damage. With this in mind, pruning a tree early in its life will negate the need for large pruning cuts in the future.

• 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.

1. The first cut should be a shallow notch cut into the underside of the branch. This cut ensures that the branch will not damage any stem tissue when it falls.
2. The second cut should be outside of your first cut and should go almost all the way through the branch, leaving only a small stub.
3. The final cut is made just outside of the branch's bark ridge/branch collar.

1. The main reasons you should prune are for the tree's longterm safety, health, and aesthetics.
2. Pruning for safety: Pruning for safety usually involves removing limbs and branches so they do not fall on someone or on the property. This type of pruning can easily be avoided when the owner plans his trees' placement, and with early pruning before trees have fully matured.
3. Pruning for health: Pruning improves a tree's health by removing diseased or insect-infested wood, increasing the tree's airflow, and reducing overall pest infestation
4. Pruning for aesthetics: Pruning also enhances the tree's appearance, form, and character.

• 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.

1. ALWAYS FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY AND FULLY Hand pruning shears: These are best used for small trees and shrubs. The scissor type is preferred over the anvil type.
2. ALWAYS FOLLOW DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY AND FULLY Lopping shears (or pruning saws): These are best used for your larger cuts. Never use hedge shears to prune a tree.
3. Remember: every gardening season people are injured or can die from using equipment improperly or not safely. Keep your equipment in good repair and store it safely. Keep it clean and repaired always. Replace old equipment. Use safety equipment always such as approved goggles for your eyes and approved helmets, gloves, etc. also. Shop from a high quality store and get good quality equipment, asking knowledgeable staff for advice. Better yet, take a course or workshop first from a local college to familiarize yourself. Watch videos in advance. Remember, it is unreasonable to believe that one sheet of paper can give you enough information to proceed from scratch. Watch a knowledgeable person working first, ask them to teach you how and supervise your work and help you out. Don't take large equipment up a ladder you can accidentally drop it on yourself. Buy professional equipment designed for the task, eg. professional cutting tools on a pole. Don't buy cheap equipment that may cause you grief in accidents eg. cheap metal pole cutters if accidentally touch a hydro wire can be fatal. These are all reasons why the original disclaimer in the introduction is to simply consult a trained arborist first and go from there.

• Pruning trees takes practice and some knowledge of the appropriate pruning methods. If a tree is improperly pruned, the tree could die or be severely wounded. When the tree is properly pruned, it can have a healthy and long-lasting life along with great curb appeal for your lawn. To leave comments or suggestions click on Message Board at bottom of right hand column.
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