01206 231720 or 07841 623027 johnjfryer@icloud.com
Why do I need to Prune my Trees?

Why do I need to Prune my Trees?

May 7, 2020 | Arborist, Tree Surgeon, Tree Surveys

Pruning is an agricultural process that is used to control plant growth by cutting it to improve on its health and aesthetic performance. It’s the difference between shaggy, unkempt, unhealthy and wild trees and those that are well kept, neat and healthy.

Well-kept hedges and fence screens are cut, trimmed and maintained from time to time. While natural gardens may be rustic, they do not belong in serene neighbourhoods. They simply aren’t ideal for residential and commercial settlements.

 

Improving Appearance

Trees and hedges are natural aesthetic enhancers for many landscapes, but they can make a property look untidy if they aren’t carefully maintained. Trimming maintains a neat appearance, and pruning can alter the shape. However, it should be done by following the natural contours of plants. You shouldn’t try to impose unnatural shapes and sizes for plants because you can end up causing more damage to the plant.

 

Eliminating Hazards

Unkempt and unmaintained trees may grow into paths and pavements, causing a hazard to users of the path. Hedges can drop dead branches and stems, causing serious safety hazards.

Some large trees may have roots or branches growing into utility lines or too close to buildings, causing property damage and serious safety concerns.

Improving Plant Health

Hedges and other plants are always growing in competition for more light. They sometimes choke each other up, and thinning plant crowns can go a long way in improving air circulation. Furthermore, you can strategically cut off withering parts of plants to allow healthier regeneration at the growth shoots. Pruning also saves plants from infection spreading; it ultimately prevents plant diseases while treating existing infections.

 

Increasing Fruit/Flower Production

Literally all types of plants benefit from pruning when old and withered parts are cut off. It means that precious resources are re-allocated to young shoots, increasing the amount of food and water going to fresh flowers and increases the yield in fruit production. Pruning sheds away unnecessary plant parts and allows plants to shoot at the spurs, enhancing future growth spurts and productivity.

Cypress pruning Cottage
John Fryer tree surgeon
Tree Health

Increasing Fruit/Flower Production

Literally all types of plants benefit from pruning when old and withered parts are cut off. It means that precious resources are re-allocated to young shoots, increasing the amount of food and water going to fresh flowers and increases the yield in fruit production. Pruning sheds away unnecessary plant parts and allows plants to shoot at the spurs, enhancing future growth spurts and productivity.

Tree pruning

Helpful Trimming Tips

Apart from dealing with hazards and plant disease, we would advice pruning plants during their dormant seasons. Never cut thick parts of plants, or their main supporting and growing limbs, unless when you really must. Cutting tree parts that are more than 10 centimetres in diameter may cause serious harm. 

Cut weak branches and leave the strong U-shaped ones to dominate. When side shoots grow into branches that are more than three quarters the size of the main stem, you should cut them because they will hinder the plant’s upward growth. Only start pruning the top shoots when your hedge has achieved the desired height and you want to cultivate a thick and lush crown.   

Leyland Cypress Pruning Tips

Leyland Cypress Pruning Tips

May 7, 2020 | Arborist, Tree Surgeon, Tree Surveys

One of the popular plant species that homeowners and commercial property investors prefer for their fences and screens is the leylandii or Leyland Cypress. It is effective because it is quick-growing. However, it requires regular maintaining because its shots and branches can overgrow to make an ugly mess.

You need to prune leylandii strategically so that it doesn’t grow too big to be tamed while still preserving the aesthetic performance that well-maintained Leyland cypress hedges offer. 

Taming the hedge plant is also important to prevent it from shading plants and drying your garden soil.

 

Taming the Fast Growth

Property owners adore Leyland Cypress because it can fence and screen your property quickly; it can grow up to four feet annually, and you must regulate the maximum height by regularly trimming after achieving the maximum desired height. It is great for wind breaking boundaries and security fencing. It can grow into robust sizes, and it does very well on large sites such as schools and business parks. 

You should always plant them separately to allow them enough space for the fast coming growth. Otherwise, they may extend their shoots and branches into each other, causing plant wounds. That is why you should ensure an 8-feet space between each for the projected growth curve. Still, expect the Leyland Cypress hedge to outgrow its allocated space. You need to keep pruning it strategically to keep it looking neat as well as to maintain its desired height.

Cypress pruning Cottage
Cypress pruning

Seasonal Pruning

No one wants overlapping and scrapping cypress branches and a shaggy hedge fence. However, nobody wants to damage the aesthetic potential of their fence by pruning it at the wrong time or with the wrong technique. 

Leyland Cypress pruning is an art that is based on seasons and botanical science; you can only prune it between April and August after the harsh and chilly cold winter melts down. 

That is the optimal growing season for the fence plant, and you can cut it three times depending on its size and stage of maturity. 

 

How to Trim a Leyland Cypress

Generally speaking, conifer plants do not regenerate well when their hardwood is cut, and the Leyland Cypress is no exception. You must only cut the young green shoots. In the first year of its growth, cut its overgrown side shoots during the peak growing season between April and August. Make sure to support the leading shoots that are growing vertically by tying it to an overhead cane or pole. Trim the side shoots moderately to encourage growth in the main body of the hedge. 

In the second year of its growth, trim the side shoots again during the peak growth time to encourage a consistent neatness. Continue to do so every other year without cutting the top shoots as it could prevent the hedge from achieving the desired height. After achieving the height you desire, trim the hedge top six inches downwards. It will lead to a regeneration that will make the top dense and lush. 

Never cut any of your conifer hedges during winter and be mindful not to damage any occupied bird nests. During winter, conifers are prone to frostbite, and cutting it can lead to undesirable bare patches.