On mature trees, proper pruning is required to remove dead and dying branches to maintain plant health and safety. This is referred to as cleaning. Research has now documented that thinning, the removal of live branches to reduce density, reduces wind resistance and subsequent storm damage.

Thinning should only be done on trees where the crown is "too dense." A Bartlett arborist has training and experience to evaluate this attribute. Thinning should be concentrated on the outer portions of the canopy, leaving as many branches on the interior crown as possible.

In some instances, the crown or single branches require reduction in length. This improves the form and shape of the plant, eliminates interference with objects and structures, and compensates for structural weaknesses.

Lower branches may require pruning for similar reasons. This process, known as raising, can be used to increase the amount of light beneath the crown of a tree.

Bartlett arborists are trained to evaluate the condition of your trees. They can determine the types of trimming service required to balance your goals and those of managing plant health and safety.

The time to prune might be earlier than you think. One type of pruning that is most frequently overlooked by consumers is structural pruning of young trees.

Trees evolved in forests where they tend to grow straight and lose lower branches due to competition for light. When planted in full sun in the landscape, many species tend to develop multiple stems or leaders. These are more prone to failure.

Lower branches tend to grow at the same rate as the terminal leader. This side branching results in weak attachments that also are likely to fail later in the life of the plant. So care for trees when they are young and growing quickly is critical to ensuring a strong framework for future growth. This practice uses pruning cuts to maintain a dominant stem as a point of origin unless multiple stem "clumps" are desired.

Branches are pruned so their size remains proportional to the stem diameter at their point of attachment. As growth continues, some tree branches are removed to ensure adequate spacing between permanent scaffold limbs. The shape of the tree is maintained to provide a natural open grown form typical of the species.

Bartlett arborists can also develop and maintain formal styles including pollarding, espalier, pleaching, and topiary. Fruit tree pruning techniques are becoming increasingly popular as more consumers grow fruit bearing plants in their gardens. Vista pruning is judicious removal of branches to enhance a specific view. This is frequently performed for consumers with homes near mountains or the shore.