While the terms trimming and pruning are often used interchangeably, there is actually a difference between the two. Pruning refers to removing dead, loose, and infected branches or stems from a plant or tree. Trimming is simply cutting back overgrown plants and shrubs. There are many benefits to both trimming and pruning. Keep reading to learn more about how both are necessary to maintaining a healthy and beautiful yard. 

Why Trim and Prune

Trimming and pruning are essential to keeping your yard looking fantastic. Not only do both of these activities create more room for new growth, but they also keep your yard looking well-manicured and healthy. Here are just a few of the benefits that trimming and pruning create. 

Protection

Keeping your property safe is always the ultimate goal when maintaining any trees, plants, and shrubs on your lawn. Unfortunately, branches that are no longer healthy and are suffering from disease can pose potential threats to your home and your property. This is not just hazardous to your home but also to your family as dead and diseased foliage can fall through your home and harm those living there. Properly pruning your plants and trees can help ensure that your property is well protected from these potential accidents. 

In addition to your roof and walls, the siding of your home can be damaged by branches dragging across it during inclement weather with high winds. Climbing plants and vines also need to be trimmed regularly to ensure that they do not grow underneath the siding and compromise its integrity. 

Insect and Pest Control

Poor pest control on your property can lead to many unforeseen issues. For example, plants and trees close to your home can welcome unwanted pests inside and pests that cause plants to catch diseases. These diseases can cause branches to become weak and fall on your property or house. Pruning and trimming your plants and trees can help to keep pests and insects controlled. 

One of these pests, tent worms, build nests in trees and consume the surrounding shrubbery and foliage. While tent worms won’t kill off your plants and trees, they weaken your plants and spread disease throughout your yard. To protect your home and your yard, regular pruning can help to remove any potentially damaged branches and plants and also help to control the spread of pests, such as tent worms, throughout your foliage. 

Sustained Growth 

Plants and trees require the proper maintenance for adequate growth. Improving the health and strength of your plants and trees is possible when you regularly trim and prune them. Young plants will grow into healthy and well-shaped adults with the proper structural pruning. By properly pruning while plants are young, it saves time and effort to correct their shape as they grow. As your plants mature, they are much more likely to maintain their health and structure. If their shape is not maintained correctly, your plants and trees can weaken as they do not have the proper support. 

When To Trim and Prune Trees & Shrubs

Knowing when to prune and trim your trees and shrubs is one of the most critical factors to ensuring that this maintenance activity is done properly. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when determining when to prune and trim – different kinds of plants should be trimmed and pruned at different points in the year. 

The best time to cut back larger trees and shrubs is during late winter. This is an ideal time of year to prune and trim these types of plants because the wounds heal much faster, which helps to keep your shrubs and trees strong. There is also a decreased risk of disease or pest infection, and there is less sap flow – which means less mess for you! It is also much easier to see where you are cutting without leaves on the trees. 

Other plants like conifers are best pruned in late winter when they are fully dormant, along with non-blooming trees and shrubs and summer-blooming trees and shrubs. However, spring-blooming trees and shrubs should be trimmed immediately after they bloom. While they are the only exception to the rule, it is still important to prune them as early as possible. 

Factors to Consider 

Pruning trees and shrubs is a bit of a complicated process as there are many different factors to consider. When pruning and trimming, it is important to know what to look for regarding the health and structure of plants and trees. Each has a different set of factors to consider when it is time to begin the trimming and pruning process. 

Trees 

There are many reasons to trim and prune your trees throughout the year. First and foremost is safety, as eliminating branches provides safety from electric wires, roofs, gutters, chimneys, windows, and facades. Weak and dead limbs can pose a hazard which is why it is important to remove them. Pruning and trimming also help to train younger trees and improve their shape. 

The factors that need to be considered while trimming and pruning include the following: 

• The number of cut roots – if you have to make more cuts, it puts the tree under more stress. 
• Root size also contributes to pruning, as larger roots can create additional roots. 
• Some species are more tolerable to pruning and trimming than others. 
• If your tree is in poor condition, then it should not be pruned. 
• The closer you have to trim to the trunk, the more likely you can cause damage to your tree. 
• If you’re trimming an old tree, it is more stressful. 
• If your tree is leaning, then it should not be pruned. 
• If the soil surrounding the tree is shallow, then you should stay away from the trunk. 

Shrubs

Shrubs also have their own set of factors to consider when it comes time to trim and prune their branches. If these factors are not properly addressed, you risk losing your plants or misshaping them. One of the most important factors to consider when trimming or pruning your shrubs is whether they flower. Some shrubs look better when they are trimmed before they flower, while others are better pruned after. 

If your shrubs flower, it is also important to determine when they start to blossom as this can affect the success of the trimming and pruning process. Knowing when your plants bloom is important because it affects new growth. When trimming and pruning, it is essential to look for branches that have started to grow towards the center of the plant, as these can cause issues, as well. 

Tools Needed

To properly prune and trim your trees and shrubs, you need the right tools. Without these tools, trimming and pruning are nearly impossible. Likewise, the right tools will ensure that your plants continue to grow healthy and in the proper shape. Here are the tools that are necessary for pruning and trimming. 

Hand Pruners 

These are best suited for cutting small stems. When choosing hand pruners, bypass models are the easiest and most accurate. They are modeled like scissors, so they create a clean cut. These hand pruners are ergonomic, so they are more comfortable for the user. It is very important to use these for branches that are only ½ inch thick. Otherwise, larger branches can damage the tool, and the tool can damage the plants. 

Needle-Nose Pruners

Smaller plants and shrubs require a more precise set of pruners, such as needle-nose pruners. When your usual pruners are too large to get into the tighter spots of your plants, these are the perfect fit. These pruners allow you to get into the small areas of your plants and get rid of damaged leaves and tinier branches. 

Loppers

These are much stronger than hand pruners, but they are less equipped for large branches than a pruning saw. These long-handled tools create leverage to allow you to cut larger branches. Some loppers come equipped with ratcheting gears to assist in cutting through hardwood. Loppers often have anvil blades to cut through branches that are up to 1 ½ inch thick. 

Hedge Shears 

Hedge shears allow you to cut several stems at once, which is great for getting rid of clusters of light branches. They do prune indiscriminately, so it is not recommended to use them for precision pruning. This tool helps to create a formal look for ornamental grasses and bushes. 

Pruning Saw 

Pruning saws are the perfect tool for working through larger branches. Most of them cut on a pull stroke, letting you use your body strength to cut with the teeth getting caught in the branch. You can use a pruning saw for branches up to 10 inches. 

Pole Pruners 

Pole pruners help you to reach taller branches. Many of them come with telescopic handles to make them easier to reach higher up. They are either battery-operated or gas-powered and can cut through larger branches quickly and effortlessly. 

Why Hire a Professional

While pruning and trimming is a job that many people can learn how to do, it can be beneficial to hire a professional. They know how to properly trim trees and shrubs to enhance the appearance of your plants and trees, and they know how to do it without causing any damage to your plants. To keep your yard and home safe while pruning and trimming your trees, you can make it a much easier process by hiring a professional.