The best time to prune your trees is between fall and early spring.

Fall: 

1. Reduce the dead or weak limbs so they do not break off in winter storms.
2. Better exposure to the canopy for better shaping of the tree.
3.  Less stress on the tree. Pruning during growth period inhibits the flowering and growth of the tree due to a reduction of photosynthesis.
4. Less chance of insects to penetrate the tree.

Pruning the tree should follow the three-cut method. This method helps to reduce peeling or ripping of the bark and allows for a controlled removal of the tree limb.

There are many different types of pruning cuts.

1. Thinning to reduce the amount of branches.
2. Reduction cuts reduce the length of the limb.
3. Topping reduces the height and size of the tree canopy.
4. Utility pruning provides access for utility workers to work around the tree.
5. Pollarding severally cuts the tree in order to train it to grow in a specific direction. This should only be done in the very early stages of the trees life.
6. Espalier is a type of pruning that trains the branches to grow a certain way such as on a trellis, fence or wall.

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Northside Tree Professionals’ arborists are fully trained and certified members of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). They can determine the type of tree service necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance and safety of trees.