Why Tree Pruning Is Important | Top 7 Reasons To Trim Your Tree

Tree pruning is so important because removing diseased or damaged branches can help prevent the spread of diseases or pests, it encourages tree growth and it can reduce the risk of safety hazards if the tree gets hit by a storm.

While some may consider tree pruning merely a chore, pruning is so beneficial for you trees. Not only that, but if done correctly, it can has tons of health benefits and even some aesthetic ones too.

Below, we look at six more reasons why pruning is important for a tree.

The Top 7 reasons why trimming and pruning your tree is so important are:

• Encourages tree growth
• Dead hinder growth
• Disease prevention or treatment
• Promotes fruit production
• Safety reasons
• Aesthetics
• It saves money

Encourages Tree Growth

Pruning helps stimulate tree growth since it reduces the above-ground size of the tree respective to the root system. Due to this, the root system now serves fewer buds and shoots, increasing the water uptake in the remaining parts of the tree.

The more extensive the tree trimming is, the greater the regrowth will be. Regrowth generally occurs close to the cut.

The tree generates vigorous shoots within up to 8 inches of the cut. However, the limbs with a 45° to 60° angle develop slightly away from the pruning cut.

Pruning also helps induce growth by letting more light penetrate the tree's canopy. Lateral shoots start developing with increased light penetration, which helps rejuvenate the tree's growth.

Pruning also brings about hormonal changes in the plant, resulting in better growth. Trees have meristems or cell pockets that can be triggered by pruning. A meristem is undefined, meaning it can develop into a stem, flower, leaf, root, or other plant tissue.

The apical meristem is present at the apex or tip of the trunk or branch. It helps the plant grow taller or deeper. The hormone released by the apical meristem causes apical dominance, a phenomenon where the apical meristem suppresses the growth of lateral buds.

Pruning helps remove this phenomenon, encouraging lateral branching. When you cut the apical meristem off, this particular hormone does not flow down the plant.

The absence of this hormone triggers the nodes on the branch or stem to grow new branches and stems. It helps lengthen or heighten the plant.

When pruning, you should cut above the leaf node. It will trigger the release of hormones that increase growth through meristem stimulation.

Dead Branches Hinder Growth

Pruning a tree helps get rid of dead, diseased, or weakened branches. Dead branches are often structurally unsound and can break off without warning during a storm.

They also interfere with the growth of healthy branches, depriving them of sunlight and nutrients. The tree can become weak and stunted in its growth due to the competition for resources.



Removing dead branches also eliminates potential avenues for insect or fungal infestation, which can further weaken the tree. By removing dead branches, a tree can become stronger and healthier, allowing it to reach its full potential.

Disease Prevention or Treatment

Proper pruning also helps prevent or treat certain tree diseases. Certain fungal infestations, such as Dutch elm disease or verticillium wilt, are spread through pruning wounds.



Pruning can also be used to treat diseases that have already infected a tree. For example, if a pest infests a tree, pruning can help remove the infected parts of the tree and reduce its spread. The same applies to fungi and other diseases that weaken trees.

Promotes Fruit Production

Pruning helps promote greater and better fruit production. The removal of dead and damaged branches increases air circulation and light penetration, allowing more flowers to be produced in a tree. 

Pruning also allows you to control the size of a tree, keeping it manageable and in line with your landscape design. It can also encourage an earlier harvest, as removing excess branches and shoots helps a tree focus more energy on fruit production.



Plus, it takes the tree toward generative growth rather than vegetative growth. In a plant, vegetative growth means creating new parts, such as stems, leaves, and roots, while generative growth is focused on producing flowers and fruits.

Dead Branches Are Dangerous

The dead branches on a tree may look harmless, but they can become a serious safety hazard. 

Dead and broken branches are easily damaged in high winds or heavy snow and ice, making them more likely to cause property damage or injury should they fall.



Dead branches can also fall on your roof, potentially causing a roof collapse. Removing dead branches helps prevent serious accidents and can also help keep your home and landscape safe.

Aesthetic Purposes

The aesthetic of a tree is often what draws people to it, whether for their own garden or for larger landscaping projects. Pruning dead or diseased branches makes a tree look healthier and more aesthetically pleasing.

It can also give a tree the desired shape or size when done correctly. Depending on the type and location of the pruning cut, the new growth of the tree can be directed in a particular direction or to create a specific shape.

For instance, pruning a branch back to the trunk might encourage a larger crown spread. Removing a smaller branch further out on the tree can create a shorter and more uniform appearance.

For large trees, removing low-hanging branches can provide more headroom and improved views.

Fixing a badly pruned tree is not fun, however. Be sure to prune to the natural affect of the tree or you could have issues down the line.

Saves Money

Let's say your tree has grown too large and is blocking your view. Rather than pay to have the entire tree removed, you can opt for pruning, which would cost much less.



Tree trimming also saves money by removing pest-infested or diseased branches before the infestation spreads, which could result in costly treatments and removal of the tree.

FAQs

Thank you for stopping. Now that you learned more about pruning trees and why you should do it, be sure to look into a good pair of tree loppers so that you can make the perfect cuts.