Fall pruning season often starts with leaf fall.  Pruning properly helps trees stay healthy, controls or directs growth, and cleans up after a wind or snowstorm.  Not pruning can harm your trees long term by creating codominant leaders, and create structural issues with the trees long term habit. 

How To Make Pruning Cuts 

First, let’s talk about the proper way to make a pruning cut.  First, cut upward on the bottom of the branch to be pruned about a few inches out from the branch collar.  The branch collar is the donut-shaped ring where a branch exits the trunk.  Cut up about a third of the way through the branch.  Then, on the top of the branch, cut about an inch or two further out from the trunk than the undercut.  Finally, trim the cut to just outside the branch collar.  The undercut keeps the branch from tearing away from the tree and damaging it in the process. 

Controlling or Directing Growth   

Trees need pruning when young so that they develop the proper shape and grow strong branches.  First, remove any sprouts near the ground, often called suckers.  Next, remove any fast-growing vertical sprouts from the branches.  These are often called water sprouts.  Next, cut any branches that are rubbing on another branch.   

Finally, cut anything growing inward.  These cuts should leave your tree with an open structure with branches that are strong.  The open structure lets air and light into the center of the tree, helping to prevent diseases.  It is best to remove no more than 25% of the tree in one pruning season. 

Trees should never be topped.  This way of pruning is destructive to the tree’s health and appearance.  Crape myrtles are often topped.  We refer to this as “crape murder.”  Topping should be unnecessary if you take care to plant the right tree for a given space and prune it with intention to fit the space. 

Pruning for Health 

Check all the branches of the tree for disease or pest damage.  Remove diseased or damaged branches to stop or slow the spread of disease.  Remove branches that may fall on a structure or block a sidewalk, so they do not injure someone. 

After Storm Damage 

Proper pruning helps prevent storm damage.  Sometimes, however, even properly pruned trees are damaged by big storms.  Removing broken branches promptly after a storm, regardless of the time of year, helps the tree heal.  Broken branches can allow disease causing fungus or bacteria to enter the tree.  These branches also detract from the appearance of the tree. 

We Can Help 

Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has found that many people are afraid to ruin their trees by pruning the wrong way or they simply don’t have time to prune.  If you enroll in our garden care subscription, we will help take care of pruning your ornamental trees and shrubs for you.  If you have larger canopy shade trees that need help, we partner with several certified arborists in town to help with the bigger jobs.  Call our office at (816) 825-2524 or visit our website www.RoyalCreationsKC.com to get help with your pruning needs.