A specimen pruned Japanese Lace-leaf Maple

Star Magnolia beautified by specimen pruning

Pruning increases strength in branch structure, reducing hazards

Why Prune Trees?

One of the most common questions homeowners ask arborists is: "Why does a tree or shrub need to be pruned?" The answer to this question is not a simple one. One must ask themselves what is the purpose of the plant in the landscape? Is it performing to meet my needs? Is it growing too large, or blocking a mountain view or is it simply ugly?

There are seven basic reasons why we prune trees:

1. Create a strong branch structure:
During the first several years after a tree is planted a young tree can be easily pruned to correct poor form. Prune to give proper branch spacing and strong attachments. Eliminate double leaders to create a strong single leader trunk. This approach prevents future problems and trees are less susceptible to storm damage.
2. Reduce or eliminate hazards:
Large broken or dead wood in the canopy may unexpectedly fall out and damage property or harm people. Prune to remove deadwood, broken branches or weakly attached branches to reduce hazard potential. Thin large growing trees like Douglas fir to reduce wind resistance.
3. Control growth and size:
Prune to keep "out of control" trees and shrubs contained in the landscape. Shear hedges annually to maintain a manageable size.
4. Create aesthetically pleasing landscapes:
Create a beautiful landscape with specimen pruned trees and shrubs. Plants that are thinned reveal their unique branch structure, yet retain their natural shape.
5. Correcting improper pruning or storm damage:
Create a new canopy and branch structure on a previously topped or storm damaged tree by selective pruning and crown thinning. This may require multiple pruning visits over several years to restore the natural crown shape.
6. Disease reduction:
Remove diseased plant parts to prevent further infection and improve looks. Reduce disease infection by increasing air circulation and light penetration by thinning branches and foliage.
7. Enhance fruit production:
Prune to control the size and shape of fruit trees to keep the fruit production at a reachable height. Do not prune for pruning sake. Schedule a consultation with one of our arborists to help determine what your purpose for pruning is and we can help create a beautiful and safe landscape.

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(left) Close-up of 1/2 inch white bloom with colored veins
(right) Clusters of unopened bell-shaped flowers

The Enkianthus narrow in its youth grows
broader with age

Anthracnose damage on a Dogwood

Featured Shrub: Enkianthus

Coming from Japan, the Enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus) has upright graceful stems with tiers of nearly horizontal branches. Narrow in its youth it grows broader with age. It is a beautiful specimen shrub that once you see it you will have to have one for your own garden. The leaves are 1-3 inches long, slightly toothed edges and are green in color turning to a brilliant yellow-orange to deep red in the fall. The true beauty of this shrub is the small pendulous flower clusters that hang downward in the late spring. The white bell shaped flowers are small 1/2 inch in size and have colored veins ranging from red to maroon. Like rhododendrons they require moist, well drained acidic soils with plenty of organic matter. Prune to emphasize their unique shape and remove any deadwood. Show these plants off in a prominent location where you can see up close its silhouette, flowers, and brilliant fall color.

Spring Disease Recovery

Our rainy spring of 2005 will be remembered as the year of the blight disease for the devastating effects on fruiting, flowering and ornamental trees and shrubs. From Brown Blossom Blight and shot hole diseases in the Cherries and Plums, Anthracnose in the Maples, Sycamores and Dogwoods, and mildew everywhere else, foliar diseases had a destructive impact on the health of our plants this year.

Expect that your plants may look worse before they start to recover. Diseased leaves will fall off and plants will look thin and unhealthy. It is too late this year for preventative disease treatments as the infection and damage has already occurred. The key is prevention for next year. Drier weather will bring an end to the infection of the foliage blights and healthier growth will start to appear later this summer.

What are the steps we can take to help our plants recover from disease?

 Prune out diseased plant parts. Thin foliage to improve air circulation.

 Fertilize plants this fall to improve plant vigor.

 Apply compost tea to improve soil health by adding beneficial organisms.

 Mycorrhizae root treatments to help improve feeder root development and aid in nutrient uptake.

 Schedule a preventative treatment program to prevent the disease next year. Many diseases require a fall dormant application as well as preventative disease treatments in the spring for optimum control.

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250 Year-old White Oak Preserved

Last winter a near disaster struck the largest oak at the Oak Ridge Estates homeowners association. This 64-diameter inch 105-foot tall tree lost a large 28-inch diameter branch during a winter storm. Fortunately there was no damage to surrounding properties. However, losing a branch of this size left a large wound and revealed significant structural weakness of the large branch structure of the tree. These potential large branch failures were threatening the existence of this large Oregon white oak that is estimated to be over 250-years old.

Losing their large oak was not an option to the Oak Ridge Estates homeowner’s board. Collier Arbor Care analyzed the health condition of the tree as well as evaluated the large wound and structural problems. A recommendation was made to put in an extensive cable system to insure help in the prevention of other large branch failures in the future. An extensive crown thinning and branch de-weighting was also performed. The result is a wonderful old tree preserved for future generations of homeowners to enjoy.

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