Common Pruning Terms
Pruning your trees and shrubs on a regular basis is an important part of landscape maintenance. RYAN arborists can determine what type of pruning is necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance, or safety of your trees and shrubs. Below is a list of common pruning terms that we may use when giving you a pruning proposal.
Crown Reduction
Pruning the outside of the tree canopy to reduce the height and/or spread of the tree. The purpose is to reduce tree size, reduce a portion of the tree for structural clearance or minimize the risk of failure.
Thinning
The removal of a specified percentage of limbs (less than 25%) resulting in an even distribution of branches along a limb. Care must be taken not to remove an excessive amount of interior foliage. Doing so results in weak branch structure. Thinning allows more light penetration and air movement in the canopy of the tree.
Raise
This process involves removing lower branches of a tree to a desired height. Removal of lower branches may provide clearance for roof tops or pedestian and vehicular traffic. Raising low limbs is more effective than thinning at providing much-needed sunlight to lawns.
Subordination/Structural Pruning
Selective removal or reduction of limbs to improve the structural integrity of the tree. This process ensures a tree has one dominate central leader. Properly executed, subordination pruning promotes longevity, reduces future maintenance costs and can reduce conditions in the tree that could place people and/or property at risk. Subordination pruning is done in multiple stages.
Renewal Pruning
A process involving the selective removal of the largest stems of a shrub to encourage new stems to grow. Renewal pruning is done over a one to three year period.
Heading Back
A pruning technique often used in combination with renewal pruning to keep shrubs within a specific size range or area.
Rejuvenation
Indescriminant removal of all stems of a plant to 6-8" above ground (in many cases.) Rejuvenation pruning is completed in one pruning cycle.
Give us a call or request a proposal and experience The RYAN Advantage for yourself