When done correctly, tree and shrub pruning is carries extensive horticultural value beyond reasons of appearance. Our staff of ISA Certified Arborists commonly uses four distinguishable types of pruning to promote continued tree health: developmental pruning, corrective pruning, rejuvenative pruning and dormant pruning.
One of the most important types of pruning, developmental pruning is performed in the first ten years of the tree’s life, after it has had a couple years to establish its root system. The goal is to establish a central, dominant leader, proper branch spacing, and proper structure. This sets the framework for a beautiful tree form moving forward and prevents potential problems which could occur later in the tree’s life.
Corrective pruning is the pruning of a tree, shrub or evergreen that removes living, dying and dead parts of the plant for the benefit of the whole plant and everything that plant might effect. Most common examples include plants in physical contact with buildings, walkways, another plants, etc. or those which have dead, infected, or infested limbs.
Rejuvenative pruning is an option with shrubs which have overgrown their space. Instead of removing the shrub altogether, this process removes extensive portions of the above-ground plant growth, allowing the plant to essentially start over but with the benefit of its extensive root system and any preservable structure already in place.
Winter pruning offers numerous benefits over green season pruning. Structural problems are more visible, making it easier to make pruning decisions without leaves obscuring branch structure. Plants pruned in the winter have a tendency to grow over pruning cuts much quicker than during any other season due to the quick onset of spring growth. In addition, frozen ground enables our arborists to access certain areas with larger equipment which may be unreachable during the warmer seasons.
