| Tree Pruning in Austin is complicated by many | | | | tree. Tree pruning is an art mastered only by |
| factors. There are several subjects that should be | | | | years of experience. Aside from the aesthetics of |
| examined such as when to prune, what to prune | | | | a tree, one also has to consider how the tree |
| and how to prune. In this article I'm going to focus | | | | impacts the surrounding landscape. Pruning may be |
| on why to prune trees and what factors relate | | | | needed to allow sunlight for the turf, trees may |
| specifically to Austin. Health, cosmetics and safety | | | | be over-crowded by ambitious landscaping and |
| make up the meat of the formula I use to | | | | need to be shaped and thinned, or center piece |
| understand why you should prune your trees. | | | | trees may need sculpting to really set off the |
| Let's start with pruning for tree health. Most | | | | look of the landscape. Or, for the true naturalist, |
| everybody loves trees; we want them to live | | | | tree pruning should be done in a matter that |
| long and prosper. Just like your doctor can | | | | improves the health of the tree without |
| prescribe you exercises and eating habits that will | | | | compromising the natural look. |
| help you live longer, tree pruning can add to the | | | | One natural thing about trees that most people |
| overall life expectancy of a tree; as long as the | | | | over look is that trees naturally fall apart as they |
| pruning is done right. In Austin, we have to worry | | | | age. Pruning is one of the tools you have to help |
| about Oak Wilt. Pruning your trees properly can | | | | prevent your favorite tree from crashing into |
| reduce your chances of contracting oak wilt, and | | | | your house. Structural integrity might be the most |
| conversely, failing to take precautions can cause | | | | important thing your arborist should be looking for. |
| unnecessary exposure to the deadly fungus. Look | | | | Most tree pruning guidelines are built around this |
| at my Oak Wilt articles for details on this. Pruning | | | | subject. Usually when you see failed tree, be it |
| a tree to remove dead limbs helps the tree heal | | | | from a storm or a random summer afternoon, |
| the wound and limits overall stem decay in the | | | | there is usually some defect that led to the |
| tree. The motivating factor to prune your trees | | | | disaster. The best pruners have an eye for |
| isn't always to improve the health of the tree, | | | | included bark and decay. Cabling and bracing are |
| sometimes (maybe even most of the time), | | | | other techniques that can be used in conjunction |
| trees are simply in the way and we need to | | | | with pruning to improve the safety of your tree. |
| remove limbs that are too close to the house or | | | | I think this subject is sufficiently over-complicated |
| in the street. In these scenarios the idea is to | | | | at this point. If you're the type that chooses to |
| prune the tree in a manner that offers the least | | | | hire professionals to do things for you, you should |
| damage to tree health. | | | | have enough ammunition to do your interviews. |
| Moving on, the number one reason to not let | | | | For the do-it-yourself guy/gal keep reading. This is |
| uncle Bob prune your tree is cosmetics; the | | | | an introduction to the subjects surrounding tree |
| amputated-arm-look is not in. And, regardless how | | | | pruning; you have a lot of reading ahead of you. |
| good your landscape designer is he can't recreate | | | | We still need to cover what to prune, how to |
| a the majesty of well manicured, mature shade | | | | prune and when to prune. |