At Cherokee Tree Care, we get a lot of questions about proper tree pruning. The most common being: when is the best time to prune trees, spring or fall? However, contrary to popular belief, how to prune is more important than when.
First, identify why you need to prune. Is your tree too close to your house, or too low over the driveway? Your tree’s location will help us decide where to make cuts.
When pruning, the rule of thumb is not to remove more than 25% of growth. Leaves are the tree’s food factory; at Cherokee Tree Care, we’re extremely careful not to eliminate too much growth. We want to make sure that living branches consist of at least 2/3 of the tree’s height to avoid fatal damage.
One thing that is important to understand about trees is they don’t heal—they seal. This means they put on new wood every year to close any wounds. Where we make our cuts is vital to a tree closing those wounds. We work with the tree—not against it—in selecting the best location to make cuts, helping ensure the wounds close as quickly as possible.
Finally, it’s important that homeowners trust and hire arborists to take care of their trees. Trees are individuals—no two are exactly alike or in the same location. Contact Cherokee Tree Care for all of your tree care needs or request a free estimate! Your trees’ health is our top concern, and we are always happy to provide an opinion free of charge.