Pro Climb Arborist company providing tree work

Our Tree Care company provides an all inclusive maintenance and management tree care service for you property. Book online or call 021 508 806 for a fast quote

  • Tree Care Services
    • Arborist Services
      • Tree Treatment
      • Tree Surgeons
      • Tree Inspection
    • Landscape Tree Services
      • Tree Lopping
      • Tree Topping
      • Tree Pruning
      • Tree Planting
      • Tree Transplanting
      • Tree Moving
      • Tree Trimming
      • Overhanging Branches
      • Tree Bracing
      • Tree Spraying
      • Tree Roots
    • Tree Cutting Services
      • Tree Removal
      • Tree Felling Services
      • Tree Mulching
    • Hedge & Shrub Services
  • Contract Tree Services
    • Tree Services for Schools
    • Tree Services for ECE
    • Tree Services for Councils
    • Emergency Tree Services
    • Vegetation Management
    • Environmental Research
    • Tree Climbing Services
  • Reviews
    • Submit Review
  • Arborist Training
    • Safety Training
    • Aerial Rescue Training Auckland
    • Tree Rigging Training
    • Tree Climbing Training
      • Single (Stationary) Rope Technique for Tree Climbing
      • Advanced Tree Climbing Techniques
      • Tree Climbing for Canopy Research Training
  • About
    • Meet the Pro Climb Team
    • Living Wage Employer
    • Careers with Pro Climb
    • Case Studies
    • Newsletter
    • Environmental Policy
  • Blog
    • Tree Care Advice
    • Garden Tips
    • How to guides
    • News
  • Contact

Questions or Bookings?
call 09 300 1422

You are here: Home / How to guides / How to Prune Trees the right way from Pro Climb

How to Prune Trees the right way from Pro Climb

17/10/2016 by Rossy

How to prune trees. We first need to ask an important question before addressing how to prune trees which is why is the tree being pruned in the first place? The answer to the question of why, may have a strong influence on the answer to the how.

Trees may require pruning for a number of reasons including aesthetics, safety, light issues, fruit production or to keep them away from services or buildings. Each of these factors may require the tree to be pruned in a different way in order to achieve the desired outcome.

how to prune trees

The Evolution of how to Prune Trees

Trees have evolved to take care of their own needs and in the majority of circumstances do not require human interaction in order manage themselves. Humans often demand certain characteristics of trees. For example they don’t want branches to drop on our heads, damage property, or block all of the light to our houses, and this is where the need for most pruning originates.

How to prune Trees safely

By removing branches, and therefore leaves, from a tree you are reducing the trees’ ability to create and store energy via photosynthesis. Any wound made on the tree is a potential entry point for infection and breach in the trees’ natural defences. So, it is important that when we are pruning we always take the least amount of material possible and make the smallest and lowest number of wounds in order to minimise the negative effects on the tree.

It is also important that the arborist who is carrying out the work is skilled and knowledgeable in tree biology. They should be able to prune the tree in a way that works alongside the trees’ natural copying mechanisms for branch removal. Accuracy and positioning of cuts are vital to a successful outcome. As a general rule no more than 30% of the foliage should be removed in any one go, and you should not leave wounds that are greater than 1/3rd of the stem diameter they are being left on.

Professional arborist commercial tree care maintenance
Professional arborist commercial tree care maintenance
Professional arborist commercial tree care maintenance

How to prune Trees based on Seasonal conditions

The time of year can also influence the trees’ ability to cope with pruning. Trees can be more vulnerable at certain times in the year and it’s best to avoid pruning at these times. Producing flowers, fruit, leaves, and shedding leaves are costly in terms of energy for trees. It is best to avoid pruning trees when these processes are occurring. As a general rule mid to late summer and early to mid-winter are the best times to prune trees. Trees can be pruned at other times but these parts of the year are best.

Trees grow in all shapes and sizes according to the conditions they are growing in. They will grow to oppose gravity, towards light, and as a result of the prevailing wind. For these reasons trees are often not symmetrical. As it grows, a tree will lay down wood as a result of the forces placed upon it. A tree that is not symmetrical, will have different distributions of wood throughout its trunk and branches in order to balance out its lopsided shape. It is therefore not always necessary to prune a tree into a symmetrical form. However, in some settings a symmetrical shape can be more pleasing to the eye.

how to prune trees

In some situations only part of the Tree needs pruning

Sometimes it is only part of a tree that has developed a fault or weakness which is causing a problem. In these circumstances only part of the tree may require pruning. Sometimes an individual limb may extend out of the canopy and be open to more force from the wind, or it may have a crack or rot hole. In these cases just the affected limb can be worked on in order to minimise harm to the tree.

Is my tree dangerous

Pruning should be done early in a Trees life

The best time to prune any tree is when it is young. Selecting a good branch structure when they are younger will significantly reduce the need for pruning in the future. There is much less work (and therefore expense) involved in pruning a young tree compared to a more mature tree. A young tree has much more vitality and can cope with the effects of pruning far more easily.

Further reading for anyone seeking more specific details regarding tree pruning can be found at the following links:

  • Guide to Tree Work Terminology
  • Pruning Guide from NZARB
  • When to Prune

How to prune trees

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

Follow our Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter pages to hear about our latest news and updates.

Filed Under: How to guides

Get Advice Directly in Your Inbox


 
 


Fast Quote

  • First and last name
  • Ignore if residential

Tree Care and Tree Climbing Advice Directly in Your Inbox


 
 


PRO CLIMB

Arboriculture Consultants and Tree Care Contractors

Pro Climb was founded on the idea that trees require the utmost respect and care and are an asset that can enhance your property. With that in mind, we scoured the country looking for tree contractors … Read More >>

AFFILIATIONS

HAPPY CUSTOMERS

I’d just like to say thanks for the fantastic job your team did. They were so careful and efficient, great to deal with – a pleasure to have them on site. Martin next door also very pleased & says you are now his tree guys. – Jenny Maidment

Google Rating
Google Rating
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • CONTACT INFORMATION

    09 300 1422

    info@proclimb.co.nz

  • OFFICE HOURS

    7:30am to 4pm

    Mon-Fri

Copyright © 2022 Pro Climb Limited