Don’t Sweat the Technique: Trimming vs. Pruning

It’s happened to most gardeners. You walk into the yard, and you mean business. It’s time to prune. Or maybe trim. Wait, which is it? You realize you don’t know, and suddenly the clippers and shears in your hands seem like a big joke.

But fortunately for you, that’s where the experts at Premier Tree Solutions come in! Even though many people can’t tell you what it is, the difference between trimming and pruning is really quite simple, so don’t sweat it! Instead, read on for a quick tutorial, and then breathe a sigh of relief.

What Is Trimming?

Trimming involves shaping a plant evenly to meet the requirements of a certain design. Topiary, or the art of clipping trees into ornamental designs, involves trimming, because you trim the plant according to the desired shape rather than according to the pre-existing plant structure. Examples of where you would use trimming include hedges, where you trim to form boxes or mounds, or the aforementioned topiary. Generally you shouldn’t trim trees, although utility companies sometimes do.

What Is Pruning?

Pruning is a much more selective process. When pruning a plant, you take its structure into account, pruning branches, twigs, buds and roots to enhance that shape further. Generally speaking, plants you prune have a much more open branch structure than plants you trim. You might also prune to remove diseased or dead branches from a plant or tree, to avoid spreading and to protect plants.

Which Is Better for the Plant?

In short, neither is “better” for the tree or shrub in question. Both trimming and pruning have their time and place, and the best approach to a healthy yard and garden is using each where it is called for. Trimming a tree with a beautiful, airy branch structure will result in an ugly specimen with cuts that heal slowly, because they weren’t made at the correct points. On the other hand, trying to prune super bushy plants bred for topiary or hedges is a waste of time and energy.

So do you know what to do now, or are you hesitant? It’s OK to get some help from the professionals, so if you’d like someone with pro know-how to get the trimming and the pruning done for you, contact Premier Tree Solutions here!

Going Green for Good

If you enjoy gardening, you probably already know that it is a valuable form of exercise and that it improves mood and bolsters emotional health. However, you may not know that it has several environmental and financial boons that make it an even better idea. Whether you’re a gardening pro or a newbie just digging your first patch, keep these benefits in mind.

Protect Your Assets

When you garden, you turn soil, reducing compaction and helping it absorb water and nutrients. This lessens the chances of water running across yard surfaces, which can pool and erode foundations, leak into basements and cause buckling or lifting of patios and other hardscaping features. Plus, improving soil health makes for healthier trees and other large landscape plants, which add to the value of your home.

Host Wildlife

You know who loves a good garden? Animals. Flowering plants attract bees, which are in desperate need of habitat, as well as butterflies, hummingbirds and larger bird types. If you’re into native fauna, plant native plants to have the best chance of attracting local salamander, frog, bird, bee and other insect species. You might even get some deer, although not everyone thinks that’s a bonus!

Save Money on Groceries

Yes, really. If you put in a summer garden, you can save significantly on fresh produce during the height of production. Whereas others might have to pay for tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, potatoes, berries and herbs, which are somehow still pricey even in summer, you can head right out back and skip the lines — and the bill. If you maintain year-round gardens using cold frames or hothouses, you can add fall and spring vegetables to the list; think broccoli, spinach, cabbage, kale, beets, carrots and much more.

Help the Environment

The more green stuff growing in our world, the better protected it is against pollutants and greenhouse gases. Plants, which need carbon dioxide to breathe, filter it and other damaging chemicals out of the air, helping to combat global climate change. Plants also anchor soil, keeping it in place when wind and rain would otherwise cause erosion.

What’s not to like about a hobby that’s good for you, protects your home, pads out your bank account and throws Mother Earth a bone at the same time? Dare we say it might be the perfect hobby? So go on and get out there!

Stumped: Debunking Myths of Trees and Tree Care

You probably treasure the trees on your property and appreciate that they offer shade, beauty, and a natural element that cannot be matched by anything else. However, caring for those trees can feel like a daunting task. This is especially the case if you have misinformation regarding proper tree care. Before you stress about how to proceed or make a mistake you cannot repair, let us debunk a few common tree care myths.

  • Myth 1 – Staking newly planted trees helps them develop a better root system. – The practice of staking a young tree (attaching it to a stiff piece of wood or pole when planting it) may offer both benefits and drawbacks. Trees planted without staking will often develop a deeper and more widespread root system. However, the staking can help the tree grow straighter and keep it from washing away in a rainstorm.
  • Myth 2 – Tree wraps can prevent insect problems and prevent temperature fluctuations. Tree wraps are a type of artificial sleeve developed to protect a young or growing tree. However, in many cases, covering a tree trunk can make pest problems worse (certain insects will burrow underneath the wrap and become stuck) and the improvement in temperature control is minimal at best.
  • Myth 3 – When pruning, cut flush with the trunk to encourage healing. Pruning trees, or cutting them back regularly, is important to help them grow. However, it is important to note that trees do not heal. In reality, the spread of decay is more likely with flush cuts (cuts that are flat against the trunk) than in a non-flush cut.
  • Myth 4 – The root system is burrowed deep, deep into the ground. The truth is, while root systems vary, most of a tree’s roots will grow within the first few inches underground.
  • Myth 5 – It is easy to kill fungus or insect problems using a chemical product. While the sheer number of these products available at your nearby home improvement store may make it seem to be the case, it is not so. Many fungal and insect problems have no known chemical treatment. Working with an expert is often best.
  • Myth 6 – Regular and vigorous pruning is necessary for all trees and will make a tree grow larger and stronger. There are so many different types of trees that this statement is simply not true in all cases. Doing your research or talking to an arborist is important to find out what type of pruning is necessary.

Don’t go barking up the wrong tree! If you need more information on tree care or want to work with the best, contact us at Premier Tree Solutions today at 404-252-6448 or online at www.chopmytree.com/contact-form/.

Source

http://www.tiptoparborists.com/articles/20-tree-care-tree-service-myths/

http://theworldlink.com/news/local/don-t-fall-for-age-old-tree-care-myths/article_b7deaf89-c302-5600-b903-2aded0d6fcb7.html