Do you like to potter in your own garden? Maybe you would like to be someone like that. It could be you don’t know how.

There is a connection between being outdoors, gardening, and mental health. Nurturing your garden can contribute to being more relaxed and help with depression, and mood. 

Pruning is a great way to start to develop your green fingers. What about tree pruning? That may seem like a step too far, however you may be surprised at how much you can do and what the benefits are.

It is sad to say, trees that are neglected can become a real danger to ourselves and others. A falling branch can be lethal as was the case for a young lady walking in Kew Gardens, England in 2014. Her story made the headlines and well illustrates the responsibility homeowners have to maintain the safety of the trees on their property.

In this article, you can learn the basics so that you can get started.

Natural Jungle Versus Urban Jungle

It is helpful to understand that the trees in your garden are not quite the same as those in the forest or jungle. This is one of the reasons why you need to think about maintaining the trees on your property.

For example, in the forest and in the jungle, Mother Nature is the gardener. That means new trees sprout and old dead trees will fall. Diseased branches will make way for newer healthier branches. The elements combined with the tiny workers on the floor of the forest will take care of fallen debris.

However, the trees on your property may have been planted by developers. These type of landscaped trees have been specifically grown to plant on property like yours. They have not risen from the forest floor and survived without the care of someone else.

Trees like these need more care and attention in order to maintain their health and good structure. The simple truth is that trees in the urban jungle need a lot more help if they are to live a full and long life.

Its Time to Go

That said, some trees need to be cut down and removed. This can be because of their height, their location or that a tree has reached the limit of its natural and healthy lifespan. If you have a tree like that, get in touch with experts to safely cut the tree down.

Just because it is time for a tree to go does not mean it can't still be useful. You can arrange for a tree to be cut down and cut into logs for your wood fire or burner. This way, your tree pays for itself.

So when is the right time to prune a tree? The answer to that is when you can see the branches most clearly. That is usually during the tree’s dormant period when most of the leaves have fallen.

Besides the season, it is also good to keep in mind the age of a tree when pruning. As a general rule, it is beneficial to prune a tree when it is still young as this will save on more maintenance later on.

Tree Pruning - Basic Techniques

There are many tree pruning and trimming techniques you can learn. These take time and much experience. If you have a mature tree that has never been trimmed before then it is wise to get professional help, at least to start with and then you can maintain in the future.

Below are some basic principles and tips to keep in mind when you are maintaining your own trees.

Size Matters

The bigger the branch the more value it has to the tree and potentially the more damage you will cause by cutting it off. That is unless the branch is diseased.

If the branch is less than 5 centimeters then removing it will be fine and it won't negatively impact the tree. If it's over 5 centimeters but less than 10 centimeters, it's worth strongly considering keeping the branch. If it is over 10 centimeters, then it should only be removed if it is really necessary.

Shape Matters

Branches that have weak V-shaped angles should be removed. At the same time, you want to preserve branches that provide a strong U shape angle.

Keep in mind the overall shape of the tree. You want the tree to maintain balance in size and direction, so keep lateral branches evenly spaced as best possible.

Cut Like a Surgeon

Even though trees look sturdy and look like they will survive a lot of abuse, they are vulnerable when you're cutting branches from them. It is important to make the correct cuts and using the proper technique.

Know your tree anatomy. Make sure you know where the branch collar is and the branch bark ridge. Do not damage the branch collar.

When making your cut, always cut outside the branch bark ridge and angle your cut down and away from the tree. This will help promote new growth at the right angle.

Love Your Trees

There is no doubt trees enrich our lives and give us a sense of nature and well being wherever we live. If those trees are on your property, you need to look after them. In this article, you have read about some of the basics of tree pruning.

If you have questions or need more help, then you can get in touch here.