You could be forgiven for thinking – is tree pruning necessary? Pruning trees is something that’s often overlooked by homeowners, that is, until something goes wrong. Tree pruning is a critical part of maintaining safe, healthy and beautiful trees.
Here we take a closer look at exactly why you need to regularly prune your trees and what can happen if you don’t.

What Is Tree Pruning?

Tree pruning is the removal of limbs, branches, flower buds, fruits or even roots, from a tree using pruning tools such as hand saws, hand shears, secateurs, pole saws and chainsaws. Knowing when it is the right time to prune, together with how and where to cut is critical in achieving your desired outcome and not damaging your tree. Understanding tree biology is also important when pruning.

Why Prune?

Tree pruning, when done correctly, promotes tree health, strength and longevity. Pruning should always be done with a purpose in mind and shouldn’t just be a random hacking of branches ‘just because’. Some of the main reasons to prune trees are:

• To remove dead, dying or diseased limbs.
• To promote healthy, new growth.
• To promote fruit or flower production.
• To improve structural integrity.
• To increase sunlight exposure.
• To improve air circulation.
• To maintain desired shape and size.
• To train growth in a desired direction – i.e. away from powerlines.

The Benefits Of Pruning

Pruning your trees has many benefits. Probably the most important benefit of pruning your trees is for the safety of you and your family, your home, property and that of your neighbours. A well-maintained tree, tends to be a healthier, stronger tree and one that is far less likely to fall over or drop a heavy limb in the event of a severe storm or strong winds.

Pruning makes your tree look more vibrant and beautiful, makes it more structurally sound and less at risk of disease and pest infestation.

What Can Happen If You Don’t Prune Your Trees

Not pruning your trees can lead to disastrous consequences and can pose a major safety risk.  A sick, weak tree is an unsafe tree that is far more likely to fail and fall in severe weather. Dead or weak branches can fall without warning, overgrown trees can interfere with powerlines or block visibility and unchecked roots can cause untold damage to your property.

Unpruned trees can be a breeding ground for disease and pests and can harbor insects, bacteria and fungi, which can spread to other plants and trees in your garden.

With time, the cost of not pruning your trees, far outweighs the cost of regular tree maintenance.

DIY Or Professional Pruning?

While it is possible to safely prune small trees if you are experienced and have the right tools, it is not advisable to attempt to prune large trees due to the serious dangers involved. Pruning trees requires skill, knowledge and experience, together with the appropriate tools or you could risk seriously damaging your tree. Not to mention exposing yourself and your home to serious risk and possible injury.

Your trusted Arborist will be able to assess your tree, identify any issues and expertly prune your tree with your desired outcome in mind so you can rest assured that your tree is strong and healthy. Plus, they will clean up and remove all of the debris once the job is done. Too easy!

Professional Tree Pruning In Brisbane

Call Brisbane’s Aussie Tree Solutions for a free quote on our tree pruning and maintenance services. You’ll be in safe hands with our team of professionals. We have been taking care of Brisbane’s trees for over forty years.

So whether it’s tree removals or forest mulch, stump grinding or firewood, we’ll get to the root of it!