There are seven primary types of tree trimming that arborists use to achieve the desired pruning objective:
- Crown cleaning – Crown cleaning is very common for us we do it to 1000s of trees and types of trees. It is the most needed type of trimming/ tree pruning and includes the removal of dead, dying, diseased and broken branches. Most arborists have been trained from the first time they picked up a saw to remove these types of branches without hesitation
- Crown thinning – Tree Crown Thinning is the selective removal of live branches to reduce crown density. The center and left portion of the tree to the right has been thinned. Thinning, of various types, is the most commonly-practiced method of pruning on mature trees in some regions. Thinning allows wind to pass through or into the pruned section of the crown, which can temporarily improve durability in a storm or sunlight penetration to the ground. Perhaps the best use of crown thinning in the landscape is to reduce mechanical stress on selected limbs from gravity, wind, ice, or snow on branches with structural defects such as cracks, cavities, and hollows, and on codominant, overextended, or long branches.
- Crown raising – Is the removal of lower branches. Crown lifting is carried out to increase the clearance between the ground level and the lower branches either to allow access below the tree, to clear sight lines, improve views or allow light to penetrate to the ground.
- Crown reduction – Tree crown reduction is the process of removing branch tips, pruning back to a growth point further down the branch. This may be carried out to remove dead, diseased and damaged branches, or simply to reduce the overall size of the tree.
- Tree Lacing – Lacing is actually a type of pruning. More specifically, tree lacing is a method of pruning trees in a way that helps trees more effectively admit light and air through its canopy and crown. In addition, lacing your tree can help keep pests away and ensure that fast-growing and top heavy trees don’t become hazardous. On average 20 to 30 percent of the trees overall canopy is removed.
- Crown restoration – Crown Restoration is a term used to describe a specialized type of trimming. It can be used for small or big trees but is most commonly used on large trees. If your large trees were improperly trimmed or topped, we suggest this method fair amount. After doing what is called “topping cuts” your tree will send out multiple water sprouts that will be competing for dominance helping the future of your tree in this case.
- Espalier pruning – The horticulture practice of manipulating apple trees to grow flat on a wall or fence is commonly known as “espalier.” This method controls the growth of the tree by pruning and tying the branches into a two-dimensional, horizontal or fan candelabra fashion. All standard and dwarf-sized apple trees can be espaliered. It is recommended not to remove the central leader when pruning an espaliered apple tree. This will open a large wound and allow moisture to enter into the trunk, creating a situation for rot and fungal attacks. Instead, train the central leader to grow horizontally as one of the top rows in the espalier. The best time to prune an espaliered apple tree is in the early spring before bud break.
- Vista pruning – A vista is defined as a “pleasing view, especially one seen through a long, narrow opening.” As it relates to tree care, vista pruning is essentially the pruning of trees to create a pleasing view, whether through a series of trees, or over a serious of trees.
