Enhance a Tree’s Illustrative Beauty
Tangled branches don’t look like the neat illustrations you often see in books and can become daunting. Create the look by enhancing a tree’s illustrative health and beauty with proper pruning.
The biggest effort comes from having a saw overhead, but the basic pruning rules are easy to follow. First, ensure it is a job you can handle. If not, consult with a landscape professional, such as The Grounds Guys®. A small ornamental tree 12 to 25 feet tall is one easily tackled. Bigger trees that require a chain saw and ladder work are best left to the pros.
Pruning stimulates growth. The goal is to encourage the tree to grow strong, healthy branches headed in the right direction. Make health-promoting cuts first. Remove competing, misdirected and weak branches. Be sure when pruning to enhance the tree’s natural form. A common mistake is clipping the ends of branches. Healthy shaping is done mostly from the inside. The best time to prune is in the winter or early spring, when active growth has not yet begun. Bare branches allow you to really see what needs to be removed as well.
