Tree pruning season in Kentucky has arrived. The best time to prune trees is towards the end of winter before the sap starts running. This means that the ideal time varies depending on your location. The best place to find out in the United States is by contacting your local extension office. Our area is the month of February. Tree pruning is an essential part of healthy trees. It helps keep down disease and keeps the tree growing in a well formed shape.
I am not an expert on tree pruning but have gained enough knowledge that I can do a half-way decent job. Here is my technique.
1) I look at the tree for unhealthy or dead branches. I cut those off first.
2) I look for branches that are touching or crossing each other. This is the perfect place for disease to develop. Those branches go next.
3) Next, are there any suckers (branches that are growing straight up or below the general branching part of the tree. These are cut.
4) I look if the branches are high enough. Is there enough clearance for people to walk under the tree or mow around the tree?.
5) Lastly, I look at the shape of the tree. Are there any branches that need to be trimmed to make the shape of the tree look better?
When pruning, always make sure to cut the branch off at the tree collar or at the intersection with other branches. The branch collar has a natural defense against disease and insects. Cutting a branch at any other place sets your tree up for disease and insect invasion. You should not prune more than 25% of a tree at one time. Otherwise, it is too much for the tree to recover from. Make sure your pruning saw and clippers are sharp and in good shape. Do not leave branches laying on the ground. Compost them or put them in yard recycling container if you have one. Pruning is not that hard to do but an important part of tree maintenance. Take some time and prune your trees this year.
I am not an expert on tree pruning but have gained enough knowledge that I can do a half-way decent job. Here is my technique.
1) I look at the tree for unhealthy or dead branches. I cut those off first.
2) I look for branches that are touching or crossing each other. This is the perfect place for disease to develop. Those branches go next.
3) Next, are there any suckers (branches that are growing straight up or below the general branching part of the tree. These are cut.
4) I look if the branches are high enough. Is there enough clearance for people to walk under the tree or mow around the tree?.
5) Lastly, I look at the shape of the tree. Are there any branches that need to be trimmed to make the shape of the tree look better?
When pruning, always make sure to cut the branch off at the tree collar or at the intersection with other branches. The branch collar has a natural defense against disease and insects. Cutting a branch at any other place sets your tree up for disease and insect invasion. You should not prune more than 25% of a tree at one time. Otherwise, it is too much for the tree to recover from. Make sure your pruning saw and clippers are sharp and in good shape. Do not leave branches laying on the ground. Compost them or put them in yard recycling container if you have one. Pruning is not that hard to do but an important part of tree maintenance. Take some time and prune your trees this year.
.bmp)
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