If you want to guarantee great health and long life for your tree, it is vital to know the right solution. One of the most common tree maintenance tasks that most homeowners do is pruning.  

If you want to prune the tree yourself, you should know that there are various pruning methods that you can use. If you don’t properly prune the trees, you might end up killing it and having to hire a tree removal Charlotte NC company for it.  

Here are the different methods of pruning trees: 

Canopy Cleaning or Dead Wooding 

This is a direct pruning practice that gets rid of every single ugly and dangerous dead wood from the tree.  

Structural Pruning for Young Trees 

This pruning method is perhaps the most ignored by homeowners and so-called tree service providers. Your tree grows a lot more different compared to its natural setting. The reason for this is that almost every site condition in an urban location enables for more light to your tree compared to if it was in the jungle. Correct structural growth for the tree from tree establishment is vital for your tree’s health later in the future. This is especially true when it comes to preventing storm damage.  

There are a couple of steps to perform the right structural pruning. This includes: 

  • Getting rid or shortening the limbs 
  • Recognizing branches that will be competing with the dominant trunk 
  • Choosing the branch that will be the dominant trunk 

Canopy Thinning 

Oftentimes, this is done on overgrown trees. Thinning is sometimes vital for a couple of reasons. One of the common reasons for this type of pruning is improved light penetration. The ideal method is not to get rid of more than 15% to 20% of the tree’s foliage and you should only cut branches that are 2-inch in thickness. 

Reduction 

This is a method that concentrates on the discriminate and skillful reduction of stems that might have to be cut back for a couple of reasons. One method that you shouldn’t do is topping trees. The reason for this is that you’re getting rid of the vital trunks or branches that cause big wounds in the tree if you top the tree. This leaves the tree open to decay. You have to respect the tree’s natural branching.  

Reduction needs in-depth knowledge about how a tree grows back and what branches are vital. When it comes to this type of pruning, it is best to hire a professional tree service company and let them do the job. 

Raising 

This type of pruning method is done to raise the tree’s crown. To make things simple, you will have to clear some of the lower branches. The routine raising of the canopy needs to be done on younger trees to prevent leaving marks or wounds. The purpose of this pruning method is to accommodate more urban environments. In general, it is implemented if the branches of the tree get in the way of people or structures. Around 10 feet to 15 feet is the preferable clearance for structures.