Tree Risk Assessments

Key Reasons Why Pruning Newly Planted and Young Trees is Important:

• It establishes proper structure early on before defects become ingrained as the tree ages.
• It helps avoid expensive corrective pruning later when problems manifest.
• It allows trees to develop strong scaffold branching and tapered trunks.
• It eliminates branches that may lead to future hazards like weak attachments.
• It can help direct and control growth in desired directions.
• It improves airflow and light exposure which supports healthy growth.
• It facilities appropriate energy and resource allocation in juvenile trees.
• It removes dead and damaged branches that can invite disease/pests.
• It shapes trees for desired clearance over sidewalks, signs, lights etc.
• It enhances aesthetic form and appearance later in the mature tree.
• It reduces long-term maintenance needs and costs over the tree's lifespan.

How We Identify Hazards Before They Happen:

Proper pruning of newly planted and young trees promotes healthy structure and form to minimize future issues as trees reach maturity. Within the first several years after planting, pruning should focus on establishing good architecture through structural pruning techniques.

Our arborists assess newly established trees and provide the following pruning services:

• Formative pruning - Removing competing leaders to establish a single dominant trunk and uppper scaffold branches
• Structural pruning - Selective removal of secondary branches attached with poor structure that may lead to future failure
• Crown cleaning - Removal of dead, diseased, crossed, and rubbing branches
• Crown thinning - Selective thinning to increase airflow and light penetration
• Crown raising - Gradual uplifting of lower branches over time for clearance
• Reduction cuts - Shortening extra-long branches and watersprouts back to an appropriate side branch
• Weight reduction - Removing end weights on heavy horizontal branches

Proper structural enhancements in a tree's youth minimizes the potential for mature tree hazards like weak co-dominant stems and poor branch attachments. Pruning can also help trees allocate resources properly during crucial early development.

Investing in knowledgeable pruning now leads to healthy, hazard-resistant trees that provide lasting benefits. Contact us to schedule newly planted tree pruning!