The Benefits of Pruning

Pruning involves the selective removal of living plant parts including branches, buds, leaves, flowers and roots. Pruning can be performed on both soft-tissue plants (herbaceous) and woody plants (trees and shrubs). It is an important part of garden, landscape and commercial plant maintenance that improves health, reduces risk of damage or disease, controls insect populations and enhances appearance.

A properly pruned tree will provide many benefits, ranging from increased fruit production to improved property values and curb appeal. In addition, it helps maintain a safe environment by reducing the chance of tree or branch failure during storms, high winds and other natural occurrences.

Improves Air Quality

Proper pruning can help prevent the buildup of obnoxious gases produced by the decaying process of some trees and shrubs. These gases can contribute to poor air quality in urban areas and residential neighborhoods. Pruning can also help maintain proper soil moisture levels and improve a plant’s resistance to drought and heat stress.

Enhances Appearance

The art of pruning can transform a drab, overgrown garden into a work of art. A well-formed, symmetrical form is aesthetically pleasing and provides a focal point in the landscape. Pruning is used to shape plants and control their size, and it is especially effective for shrubs and evergreen trees.

Restricts Growth/Hazards

Judicious pruning can remove plant parts that threaten a structure or interfere with utility lines and other structures. This may include removing branches growing over a driveway or sidewalk, trimming branches that are in the way of a building, home, or car, and preventing branches from interlocking with each other or falling off of a tree during a storm.

Isolates Pests

As plants grow, their branches begin to touch and overlap each other. This causes the migration of various insects and diseases, which can cause damage to a tree or shrub. When this occurs, it is recommended to isolate the infested branches by pruning so that the organisms are isolated and do not spread to other plants within the same area.

Prunes Promote Healthy Growth

As a general rule, pruning of a plant is done to stimulate new growth and encourage vigor. This is particularly true for deciduous trees and shrubs such as maples, oaks, birches and willows. However, pruning should not be used as a means to compensate for mistakes in planting or landscape design.

Pruning paints and dressings are generally not recommended, as they can seal in moisture, which will slow or inhibit natural wound healing and the production of defensive bark ridges, which help protect against disease organisms. Furthermore, research shows that most pruning dressings, such as turpentine, mineral spirits, creosote and pentachlorophenol, actually interfere with the natural defenses of the plant and can actually kill it. Therefore, it is best to leave the pruning to the professionals who are trained to know when and how much to cut. They are also skilled in the use of hand and power tools, ensuring that the cuts made will heal quickly and look their best.

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