Quick and Easy Guide to Pruning Trees

Choosing which season to trim or prune your trees depends on the goal you have for pruning them. Spring pruning will give them overall shape and summer should be limited to light trimming to force new growth. The major pruning should be done in the late winter before the sap begins to move and the tree is still dormant.

Before beginning, view the tree from several angles to determine the shape you want when you are finished. When pruning a tree, look for crowded limbs, branches that shoot straight up too close to the main trunk, and dead, broken branches. You also want to trim away the branches that are too low to the ground. Begin by removing the dead or broken limbs and then cut away any limbs that cross to give sufficient room for new growth. Also, look for branches that are growing at narrow angles to the main trunk as these will produce weak joints.

There are several different goals for trimming a tree:

1. Raising the crown by removing low branches to allow more clearance below the tree.

2. Thinning the crown by removing selected branches to increase light and air throughout the tree for better health, growth, and shape.

3. Reducing the crown will reduce the height of the tree but can cause damage and is not very desirable for pruning. This is usually done only when necessary.

Depending on the types of cuts you will be making when pruning, you will need multiple tools. There are several types of pruning tools that you may want to have on hand before beginning your pruning project:

Anvil Pruner – this tool is good for limbs up to about ¾ inch and are usually lightweight and easy to handle.

Lopping Shear – this tool has a long handle and cuts limbs and branches up to 2 inches in diameter. The long handle provides more leverage for easier cutting. This is also useful for cutting branches close to the trunk.

Pole Tree Trimmer – this is useful for tall trees and has a blade that is operated by lanyard or rope.

Pruning Saw – use this for limbs that are too big for the lopping shear or the anvil pruner but remember that this tool may be difficult to use because of obstructions.

Pruning tools should be kept in good shape and sharpened before beginning your pruning and trimming. Make sure that you wear good gloves and eye protection when pruning your trees.

For more detailed information about pruning and trimming trees, see the information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture in its article on How to Prune Trees.