Many people assume that pruning is only carried out to improve the appearance of a tree, but the practical benefits are far more important. This is especially true if you live in an area that is frequently subjected to heavy winds. Though trees have evolved to withstand such conditions, extreme winds can still cause damage.
Wind damage could be limited to a broken branch or two. However, more severe cases can see trunks snapped or whole trees toppled, especially when they have been recently planted. This is obviously bad for your tree, but it can also pose a risk to your property.
However, professional pruning can help prevent some issues, and here are just four reasons why.
1. Removes Dead or Dying Branches
Even a tree that looks healthy may have a few branches that are either dead, dying, or severely damaged. Unfortunately, those branches will be less structurally secure than healthy ones, so they will be more likely to break when subjected to strong winds. By having your tree regularly pruned, you can ensure that those dead or unhealthy branches are removed before they can come away and do any damage.
2. Lightens Overextended Branches
Even perfectly healthy branches can benefit from pruning since they can become too heavy or overextended and start to bend under their own weight. When hit by heavy winds, the additional strain can cause those branches to split or snap. A professional pruning service can help prevent that from happening by strategically lightening branches in key areas to improve their structural integrity.
3. Lowers the Centre of Gravity
You might not have thought about how your tree's centre of gravity will affect its stability, but this can make a real difference. Essentially, a tree that has a relatively low centre of gravity will be put under less strain during periods of heavy wind than a tree with a high centre of gravity. You can take advantage of that fact by having the tree pruned to reduce its centre of gravity. This is usually done by reducing the length of certain branches or reducing the entire crown size.
4. Thins the Canopy
When trees go too long without being pruned, they tend to develop a very thick canopy that will catch a lot of wind. By having the canopy slightly thinned, you can greatly reduce the pressure placed on it by heavy winds. Just remember that excessive pruning of the canopy can actually make a tree less stable, which is one reason why it's important to hire professional pruners rather than doing the job yourself.
For more information about tree pruning, contact a local company.
Share13 April 2023
Hi, my name is Christine. As a lifelong lover of the Shel Silverstein book "The Giving Tree," I have always been interested in the many different relationships one can have with a tree. I own a relatively large property with several trees, and I have worked hard to make those trees an essential part of my life. Some of my trees provide me with food, others provide me with energy-efficient shade that reduces my air conditioning bill and others create recreation opportunities for my kids in the form of treehouses or swings attached to the trees. Still other trees boost my property values just by being beautiful. If you want ideas about using your trees for fun, form and function, please explore this blog.
