Proper Pruning for Healthier Trees and Shrubs
Is Pruning Necessary?
Yes, as long as it’s done for good reasons that will help the tree or plant thrive. Any pruning cut alters a tree’s growth, so pruning should be performed only when needed, such as the removal of dead growth, to reshape and form, and to remove branches that may pose a hazard.
Trees are also pruned to improve the general canopy of a wooded area to increase access of light and air to both the tree’s interior and the surround landscape below the tree. Since arbitrary thinning can have a negative impact on the health of a fully grown trees, these are typically pruned only as for specific corrective or preventive steps.