Should you consider pruning young trees or leaving them as they are? In this post, Lamb’s Tree & Plant Health Care, your certified arborist in Westbrook, answers this question about pruning newly planted trees in more detail.
When to Start Proper Pruning
Trimming trains young trees and branches to prevent overcrowding and other potential issues. While you’ll never be as hard on a sapling as you might be with an established tree, you should start pruning shortly after planting.
While some advice suggests leaving the tree alone for at least the first or second year, judiciously removing dead or diseased branches is wise. Doing so helps the tree grow big and strong.
What’s more, if you keep putting off this task, you will end up having to do a hard prune at some stage. This is more distressing for your young tree than gentle snips as it grows up. You’re also more likely to have to remove primary branches or risk them starting to deform.
How to Trim New Trees
First, we want to stress that your goal is to remove broken, weak, or dead limbs when pruning young trees. Leave aesthetic shaping until the tree establishes itself. You’ll start this process in your tree’s first dormant season, keeping the following tips in mind:
- Identify the central leader and leave it alone.
- Look out for branches that cross over each other and remove one.
- Remove any limbs that turn back inwards.
- As the tree ages, start to thin out the branches on the trunk if necessary.
- You can also remove some of the low-hanging limbs to lift the crown.
- With evergreens, remove all the leaders except the central one.
- Use narrow angles to avoid damaging the trunk.
Always Use the Right Tools
If you’re unsure of how to proceed, an arborist will assist you. However, if you think you understand how to go forward, you need to have the right tools for the job. Always choose the best quality you can afford, and keep the blades sharp and clean. This ensures that the wounds heal more easily and are at a lower risk of infection.
There are many tools on the market, and you don’t need every single one. Consider the following as a good starter kit:
- Pruning shears are absolutely essential, as they’ll cut small branches with minimal effort.
- Lopping shears are similar but have longer handles, giving you more leverage. This means you can cut thicker branches and increase your reach.
- Hand saws are useful for many tasks and branch sizes.
- Pole saws have a longer handle, making them a convenient option. However, you should work carefully because they seldom cut cleanly.
- Chainsaws are useful, but please be careful.
Contact Our Team for Expert Service
Making mistakes when pruning young trees can prove costly because there’s a real chance of the plants dying. We’re your local experts in keeping trees healthy using several techniques, and we can also advise you on the risks and alternatives to tree topping to ensure your trees thrive. Call Lamb’s Tree & Plant Health Care at (860) 266-0494 to schedule service today! Stable Trader
