Trim up the sides and take a little off the top. I'm going for a well-kempt look without being obvious about it.
No! Not me, my trees.
The best time to prune most trees is in the winter months. To do it well, now is the time to make a mental note of what needs to be done. For example, identifying dead branches is easier during the growing season but pruning should be postponed until the tree is dormant.
Things to Remember:
- Remove the right parts - refer to the figure below
- Use the right tools.
- Hire a professional for pruning outside your comfort zone
- Sharp pruning sheers or pruning saw.
- A chain saw (and related safety gear) may be needed for large limbs.
- Safety glasses and gloves
- A ladder to extend your reach
- Use the right techniques.
- Use three cut method to avoid bark ripping
- Cut just outside of the branch collar
- Use the right sized cutting tool for the branch
- Clean tools with rubbing alcohol between trees or after cutting diseased limbs
- Properly dispose of diseased or infested wood/brush
Cautions
- Do not use pruning paint – this will inhibit natural healing
- Never prune oak trees in the spring and summer as Anoka County is the oak wilt capitol of the world and pruned trees are likely to get infected
- If the tree is unhealthy, diagnose the cause before pruning