4 Structural Pruning Steps For Young Trees
Young trees require structural pruning if you want them to reach maturity with a strong and well-balanced form. This type of pruning trains the tree to a single leader, which is the branch that will become the main central trunk within the crown. Further structural cuts are also done to create a balance of lattice branches from the leader.
1. Leader Selection
The preferred leader doesn't need to be perfectly straight, but it should grow in a generally vertical direction. The most centrally located candidates should be the only ones considered, otherwise the tree's form won't be well balanced. There will likely be several possible leaders and it takes some care to choose the best candidate. Avoid any branches that have any visible wounds or cankers, as only the healthiest branch should be trained to lead. Mark the branch with a flag once it's identified to avoid accidental cuts.
2. Codominant Identification
Identifying the codominants is next once you know which branch you want as the leader. You likely found most of these when looking for a leader because the codominants are the other leader candidate branches. Each codominant will require trimming so that it doesn't grow to compete with the leader. A few codominant stems are selected to become the lattice branches, which are the lateral stems that branch away from the leader. These new lattice branches should be evenly distributed throughout the crown. Any codominants that don't qualify as lattice branches will be removed.
3. Reduction Cutting
Pruning can proceed now that everything has been identified. Any damaged codominants are cut back to their base, as are any excess stems that may cause crowding. The lattice branches are also pruned, but they aren't removed completely. Cuts are made just before a bud or leaf scar, removing around a third of the length of each branch. Trimming out the excess branches and cutting back the lattice branches helps direct more of the tree's resources to the leader, allowing it to grow into a large central support branch.
4. Follow-up Pruning
Although structural pruning can be a once-and-done process, a couple of follow-up trims are recommended for trees growing on smaller lots or near the house. These additional trims will ensure that the leader remains the main central branch. More importantly, it allows for the management of the lattice branches' growth rate so that they don't develop too quickly and become competitors for the leader again.
Contact a tree trimming service, such as Schulhoff Tree & Lawn Care, Inc., to learn more.