Eastern Power Equipment
285 Route 9 PO Box 97 Barrington, NH 03825
Phone 603/664-7776 | Toll Free 866/664-7776 | Fax 603/664-7420 | email chuck@easternpowerequipment.com
Pruning Trains Your Trees
Most people plant trees hoping they will naturally grow in symmetrically pleasing shapes. But trees need help to reach their full potential.
Left untouched, young trees can become tangled and potentially dangerous. You might say they need early training. Pruning removes dangerous broken branches, and maintains the tree’s health by eliminating disease or problem growth.
The best time to prune is during the dormant season. Although you can prune any time, this is the time of year when you can see the whole tree, determine how it’s growing and locate problem areas.
You’ll want to begin by looking for dead or dying branches. These can carry insects or diseases. Cut them back to a healthy branch or to the trunk, also known as the leader.
You’ll also want to find branch stubs. These result from improper pruning or from injuries caused by storms. As with limbs, cut them back to the leader. Don’t cut too close or flush to the trunk because you’ll damage the bark.
The next step requires imagination. Look at the way your tree is growing and think about what it will look like when it’s mature. If one of the limbs is heading for a fence or a garage, remove it as early as possible in the tree’s life. As the tree grows older, wounds take longer to seal. And it’s important to remember that branches don’t grow upward. They grow outward at an angle. When branches are too close or the angles are too narrow, the branches can’t grow properly.
Improper pruning isn’t beneficial, of course. Be sure to use a sharp saw and tools for clean and smooth cuts. Many helpful pruning tools, including cherry pickers and scaffolding, are available at most rental centers.
Finish by painting the wounds, if you like. Tests by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service indicate that this won’t stop decay or prevent rot. But it will make the tree look better.