| Almost every suburban home in America boasts | | | | middle of the tree for removal. Select these |
| one or two large landscape trees on their | | | | branches with care, because a tree that is |
| property. These large trees provide us with | | | | windowed improperly can easily become |
| shade, privacy, and are an anchor for our | | | | disfigured. |
| landscape designs. Therefore, we want to take | | | | 3. Skirting Up |
| good care of our trees and maintain them as well | | | | Skirting up refers to removing some of the lower |
| as we possibly can. One key to keeping a large | | | | branches of a tree to make it easier to walk |
| tree in good shape is to occasionally trim it back. | | | | under or mow under. Ideally, skirting up should be |
| Trimming a tree requires skill and precision, and if | | | | done gradually, as the tree is growing. Every year |
| you're unsure about doing the job yourself, it's | | | | or two, remove a branch that is lower to the |
| best to hire a professional arborist to do it for | | | | ground than you'd like, cutting it flush with the |
| you. However, if you don't trust your tree to | | | | trunk and then allowing it to heal over properly. If |
| anyone but yourself, there are four important | | | | you are skirting up an older tree and some of the |
| methods of tree trimming to familiarize yourself | | | | branches to be removed are quite large, you may |
| with before you get out your saw. | | | | want to consult with an arborist or your local |
| 1. Thinning | | | | nursery or garden center. You may need to paint |
| Thinning is the most common type of tree | | | | the wound over for a year or two to help it heal |
| trimming, and it's what most people usually have | | | | and prevent disease from entering the tree. |
| in mind when they hire a professional to trim their | | | | 4. Crown Reduction |
| trees for them. Thinning is a process of removing | | | | Crown reduction is the process of making a tall |
| excess branches and foliage from a tree so that | | | | tree shorter by trimming the tallest branches at |
| the wind flows through it more easily, making the | | | | its top. If you are dealing with a very large |
| tree less susceptible to storm damage. To thin a | | | | landscape tree, such as an oak or maple, it's wise |
| tree, start by removing any weak branches as | | | | to hire a professional firm to do the work for |
| well as limbs that cross or rub against each other. | | | | you, because they have the right equipment to |
| Now work your way up the trunk and main | | | | prevent accidental injury. |
| branches of the tree, thinning out any excess | | | | Remember, anytime you are trimming a tree, |
| foliage. Take care not to prune too vigorously as | | | | always select your branches very carefully and |
| you near the end of each branch. You want the | | | | consider them twice before you actually cut. Once |
| tree to be left with a natural, full appearance at | | | | a branch has been cut, there's no way to put it |
| the top and sides. | | | | back, and many a fine landscape tree has been |
| 2. Windowing | | | | disfigured by a poor trimming job. If you do hire |
| Windowing is the process of creating "windows" in | | | | an arborist for a professional tree trimming, be |
| the middle of a tree so that you can see through | | | | sure to get some references so you can look at |
| to the opposite side. This is most commonly done | | | | trees they've previously trimmed before hiring |
| when you have a large tree growing close to | | | | them. With an occasionally trimming every five |
| your home, such that it obstructs the view of the | | | | years or so, your trees will grow beautifully and |
| landscape and yard beyond. To window a tree, | | | | stay well maintained in your yard for years to |
| select one or two horizontal branches in the | | | | come. |