Structural pruning is a must for landscape trees, particularly trees growing near buildings, parking areas, streets and walkways. The conditions in which a landscape tree grows is innately different from those in forests. Trees growing in forests develop a strong central stem with more proportionate branches. Outside of its natural environment, the crown of a landscape tree can flourish with lower, larger branches and many more limbs than their forest counterparts because they receive an abundance of sunlight, leaving landscape trees more prone to develop structural defects.

This can ultimately lead to breakage of branches and limbs, and even overall tree failure.  It’s especially important to give special attention to trees that expose a safety hazard to people or property. Larger trees with weak structures are most vulnerable and are the first to fall in even mild weather events.

Weak tree structure can be prevented. It starts by making proper cuts to younger trees to help guide your tree to grow stronger and increase the tree’s prospects for a long and healthy life. More established trees also benefit from proper pruning. Proper structural pruning is an easy way to avoid future, larger issues with your landscape trees. For more information, call us to schedule an appointment with one of our certified arborists.