Tree pruning in New Mexico is a professional service that can beautify and reinforce your trees so they can fight off insects, diseases and severe weather – and look wonderful while doing it!
Pruning should be done if you want a healthy tree, but it has to be done properly by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from NM Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small and developing, but you also may do permanent damage to the tree in the process.
To properly prune trees, you must know all of the following:
- When to prune your types of trees
- How much of the tree should be pruned at a time
- Where to cut each branch so you do not damage the tree
Taking too much off of a tree could kill it or lead to structural damage, but precise pruning done each year benefits trees in many ways. Pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dead or diseased portions and increases fruit or flower production.
Ideally, pruning needs to be completed annually, but as trees get older, you may be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees pruned, be sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call NM Tree Trimming in New Mexico!
Types of Tree Pruning Methods
There are 7 different ways to properly trim a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier each year.
Depending on the shape, type and health concerns of your trees, one pruning method might be more beneficial than another, but each technique has different benefits to consider.
Crown Thinning Your Trees
Crown thinning is popular for larger, overgrown trees in New Mexico. This process eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow through the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.
This pruning technique also removes branches and limbs that are touching so they do not rub against each other and snap or cause weaker areas that can be an access point for pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are typically removed during crown thinning.
Crown Raising Your Trees
This tree pruning method removes branches at the lower part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them very hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weaker tree.
There are many reasons you may decide to raise the crown of a tree. Often, it is done to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can be done to create space for landscaping beneath the tree.
It is a common method for large trees that are too close to homes and buildings.
Crown Reduction
Crown reduction reduces the overall size of the crown from its exterior edge. It shortens branches vertically and horizontally to keep the tree at a manageable size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can remove the need to chop down the tree because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.
Even when the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction can help the tree look neater because it also removes irregular growth. This is a smart idea for trees that are various ages but are supposed to look uniform.
Crown Cleaning
Often referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of tree pruning technique that eliminates dead, broken or diseased branches so that the rest of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only create issues later.
Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it prevents branches from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that lowers the risk of branches falling, because healthy branches rarely fall.
Crown Restoration
Crown restoration is a focused trimming technique used on trees that were severely damaged (either by weather or vandals). It should be done by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is going to grow in the future and how long it’s restoration will take.
Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs throughout an extended period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. The arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth pattern.
Vista Pruning
If you want trees to add to the beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.
It consists of many pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – anything that makes the trees look more attractive. Remember, though, that an arborist will never compromise the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to create strong, healthy trees.
Espalier Pruning
Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against walls or a trellis. It is a unique style of pruning that is sure to attract a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning has to begin when the tree is very young and then done consistently throughout the tree’s life span.
Benefits of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it easier to harvest fruit.
Professional Tree Pruning in New Mexico
Tree trimming can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! NM Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree pruning over attempting DIY.
Aside from the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t prune it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical mistakes made by homeowners caring for their own trees.
Trees in New Mexico that get routine care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from NM Tree Trimming to prune the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Mexico!
