Do you prune a young tree, or do you leave it alone? Trimming newly planted trees seems unnecessary, but sometimes you may need to remove competing branches. In this post, Oregon Arborist, LLC, your go-to tree pruning services in Lafayette, OR, discusses the topic in greater detail.
Why Removing Branches May Prove Necessary
You will find many reasons for pruning young shade trees and other species, including:
- To remove diseased, dying, or dead limbs
- For structural improvements
- To improve clearance
- To enhance the tree’s health
- To reduce the risk of branches falling on or damaging nearby structures
- To thin heavy branches
An arborist will first establish their objectives for pruning before making any cuts. They weigh each cut carefully, as these steps have a lifelong impact on the tree.
Why Prune a Young Tree?
You should only prune a young tree to remove dead, diseased, or dying branches. You can begin to apply structural pruning techniques after the tree becomes adequately established. It will usually take three to five years to reach this point.
For a young tree, it’s too early to properly predict the growth patterns, so tree professionals recommend not making cuts for aesthetic reasons.
With older trees, you can remove up to a third of the branches, but this can create long-term problems for younger trees. With a young tree, you should remove no more than a quarter of the leaves. Removing more than this will mean that the tree cannot produce enough fuel, causing it to feel distressed. If the cut is too harsh, the tree may die.
When To Prune Young Trees
As with older trees, it’s best to trim the branches during cooler weather, like in late fall, winter, or early spring. The reasons to do so include the following:
- Limiting the spread of diseases and pests as the cool temperatures reduce pathogen and pest numbers.
- Cutting at this time allows the trees optimal recovery before the summer growing season starts.
- Animals in the area will not have young babies to look after, so trimming creates less disruption.
- You can see which branches to remove more easily when no leaves are on the tree.
It may prove necessary to prune the tree at other times of the year to stop a disease in its tracks. It also makes sense to remove dying or dead wood as soon as you notice it. For the best results, make sure you do not remove branches without a good reason.
We recommend not trimming your young trees at all but rather leaving this task to the professionals. A certified arborist is the best qualified to make the decision about which branches to prune, depending on the tree’s overall condition.
Consult the Professionals Today!
The final reason to allow an expert to prune a young tree includes the fact that they have the proper professional tree-trimming equipment. For assistance with pruning or any other tasks related to your tree’s wellness, contact Oregon Arborist, LLC at (503) 899 4166 to schedule service.