Pruning and trimming the trees on your commercial or residential property will help maintain their health and help prevent the risk of unhealthy limbs falling unexpectedly.
How often should you trim trees? Young trees should be inspected and trimmed every 1-5 years. Mature trees may benefit from a yearly inspection with perhaps a five- to 10-year cycle of trimming and pruning. Fruit trees may need to be trimmed annually.
Hire a qualified arborist to trim trees. Professional arborists know the proper types of cuts needed and are trained to know which tree parts to remove, the best location for each cut, and will have the proper equipment to do so safely. Reaching Higher is a member of The Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). We are based in Gap, Pa., and service Chester and Lancaster counties.
Read further to learn the variables involved in when to trim trees and how frequently trimming and pruning services may be needed.
How often Should You Prune Trees?
Prune your trees at the same frequency as you follow for tree trimming. The terms “trimming” and “pruning” generally are used interchangeably. Different types of equipment are used for each service, however. Also, trimming is associated with maintaining the shape of a tree or bush while pruning is vital for maintaining a tree’s health.
Your professional arborist will determine the best season to trim or prune. A technician from Reaching Higher can meet with you on your property to inspect your trees, provide you with recommendations for your trees, and offer you an estimate for the cost of the recommended work.
See: How Much Does it Cost to Prune a Tree.
Why Is it Important?
Tree trimming is important for helping the overall landscape thrive. Trimming lower branches enables sunlight to better nourish any gardens, grass, or small trees that are nearby. In other words, trimming can help thin the canopy and allow more sunlight to reach through.
Having regular tree trimming and tree maintenance will remove dead, diseased, and possibly hazardous limbs. Thinning out branches at the top of trees can reduce the weight of its crown and lessen the weight of a tree. This can be especially helpful in areas where damaging storms frequently occur and trees are located near structures.
Tree trimming can help keep electric wires unobstructed and can make it easier for homeowners and property maintenance workers to keep lawns mowed.
Trimming and pruning your fruit trees will increase the size and quantity of fruit they produce. Fruit trees should be trimmed annually.
Do Evergreens Need to Be Trimmed?
Evergreens typically need to be trimmed only if there are dead or diseased branches. If there is no leader, or dominant vertical stem, on an evergreen, it may need to be pruned. Annual inspections are your best bet for keeping evergreens and shrubs healthy on your property.
What is the Best Time of Year to Trim Trees?
You should have trees trimmed in the fall and winter when trees are in a dormant phase.
The least ideal time of year is in the Spring when the trees are using all of their stored energy to push out flowers and new leaves. Some arborists believe that Summer may be the best time to prune a tree because it is actively growing, and the arborist can wall off pruning cuts more quickly.
However, contact a professional tree trimmer at any time of year if the tree is showing signs of disease or damage. The arborist can inspect it and determine if immediate service is needed to maintain the health of the tree. Reaching Higher can provide tree trimming services as well as restorative pruning to improve the overall health of the trees on your property. We offer tree service in all the towns of both Lancaster & Chester PA Counties.