Even though you might think that taking care of trees is a pretty simple task and all you need to do is follow the steps described in numerous books, in reality, you will have to invest quite a bit of effort into it. What most people often neglect is the fact that every region is different, mostly because of different climates. So, that is an important factor that needs to be taken into consideration. In addition, the structure of soil influences the whole plant, including all the tasks you need to perform related to maintaining your tree’s health. The majority of trees in South Florida should be pruned for the very first time from 2 to 5 years after the actual planting. Furthermore, trees in South Florida, at least the most, have very shallow roots. However, some people might be confused about whether or why tree pruning is necessary. So, we will help you understand the benefits of tree pruning in South Florida, check out the following text below.

What is Pruning?

Pruning is an extraordinary measure of preventive care for both established and young plants. A frequent and regular pruning schedule helps protect your plants, including trees, from pests, injury, and damage.
This is the most basic definition of tree pruning. So, let’s dive into the subject of the actual benefits of tree pruning in South Florida.

The Benefits of Tree Pruning

 

1. Plant Health

So the first benefit of tree pruning is quite obvious. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the most important benefits that need to be taken into consideration. As pruning removes dying and dead branches, which allows room for improvement, growth, and protection of the tree and your entire property from damage. In addition, it deters pests and any possible animal infestation while promoting plant health, natural shape, and overall growth. So, in order for your tree to stay healthy, pruning is a must.

2. Maintenance

Moving on to the next most important benefit of tree pruning in South Florida. Pruning shrubs and trees encourage the production of healthy leaves and fruits. So, the main aspect here is proper and regular maintenance. Of course, regular scheduled trimming helps in maintaining top-level aesthetics. Keeping your trees proportioned will maintain the overall appearance of your property while ensuring every tree has enough space to develop and grow.

3. Protection

Today, the climate all around the world is very unpredictable. Unfortunately, weather catastrophes are pretty regular. When you have a couple of trees in your backyard, in case of a weather catastrophe, there is a risk of damage if some of those trees fall. So, how to protect your property and your family from possible damage? Well, the answer is quite simple-pruning. In case of a storm, regular pruning will lower the risk of any possible damage to all structures from broken branches. This includes child play areas, driveways, walkways, etc. Another bonus of tree pruning in terms of protection is lowering the risk of damage from vermin, pests, and even snakes. How does pruning help with menaces? By reducing their habitat options.

So, these are the three main benefits that include protection, maintenance, and overall plant health. Now, pruning is a universal term meaning that, in the following text, we’ll cover a couple of types to help you understand every aspect.

4. Types of Tree Pruning

 

Thinning

This pruning procedure removes branches from their point of origin. Thinning also enhances light penetration and helps manage growth.

Raising

Raising refers to the trimming of all low-hanging branches, creating room for pedestrians, entryways, or parked cars. This is important if the trees are big and jeopardize the surroundings. Often overlooked, raising should be a part of your regular tree pruning routine.

Topping

Now, topping is a very drastic process. It removes most of the branches from the bottom of the tree to the trunk. Topping is often used when dealing with training young trees to grow in a certain way.

Reduction

Although last, a reduction is definitely not the least important pruning type. Reduction refers to trimming a tree’s volume, mostly for safety reasons and to create space for possible power lines. All of the mentioned pruning types are important for different reasons, which is why we recommend taking all of them very seriously. Trimming, protecting, and maintaining trees is not an easy task. In fact, these are pretty complicated. If you are experienced in the matter, there shouldn’t be problems with all types of pruning. However, if you are new and need help taking care of your trees, hiring a professional tree service might be a good idea. Make sure to invest a decent amount of time into choosing the right tree service. Keep in mind that overpriced companies usually offer average services. We understand that some of you still want to go DIY. So, let’s look at why DIY tree pruning can be dangerous below.

Pruning Palm Trees

DIY Tree Pruning

As we mentioned earlier, we always recommend hiring a tree service to handle all the tasks for you. Even though DIY options are often perceived as cheaper, in most cases, the risk of possible damage to your property, backyard, and in extreme cases, even your family can be very, very high. Why? Tree pruning will require you to climb very high, so the first, most obvious risk is the risk of falling. This risk is higher if you belong to the older age group. It’s true that in most cases, falling won’t cause serious injuries, but there is always a risk of breaking something or even (in severe cases) death. Furthermore, improper pruning can result in severe damage to your tree. The main problem with these risks is that sometimes the damage is not reversible.

We listed the main reasons why you should consider hiring a professional tree service. Keep in mind that not all companies are truly experienced, meaning you should take enough time to explore all options before finally deciding on the best one. In any case, we hope you enjoyed our article and stay tuned to reading about more interesting topics.