Tree Pruning Long Island NY
Although there is a lot of confusion about crown reduction and tree topping they are in fact different techniques with different results and our skilled arborists can advise you on the best option for your trees, your yard, and your home. All of these techniques are about limiting tree growth to the dimensions you want because if left unchecked trees can often get a lot bigger than is truly desirable, or even safe, for your home or property. If you think your trees risk getting too big for your land, or you're sure they're already endangering themselves, your building, or overhead power lines, then it's time to call us and discuss your options.
Crown Pruning
Crown pruning is common in nurseries where the removal of the tips of trees cause buds to break below the cut point and helps preserve transplanted trees that are being sent out to new planting points. There are risks to the technique however for established trees and so we only advise crown pruning in a limited number of situations. Talk to our qualified arborists to find out more about pruning as a maintenance and growth technique for your trees.
Tree Topping
Topping is a technique to limit a tree's growth and the spread of its branches by using what arborists call 'heading cuts'. It's a simple technique, easier to master and perform that full crown reduction, but usually seen only as a short term solution since the results are unlikely to endure long term. Tree topping has its critics because it can cause damage, and often results in a confused sprouting at the new top of the tree ( called the 'witch's broom'). We prefer Crown Reduction as a technique.
Crown Reduction
While crown reduction requires a little more skill than tree topping it's easily the preferred technique of our skilled arborists. Crown reduction involves the use of what are called deep-crotch pruning cuts that take growth back to a crotch create by a lateral branch. As long as the selected lateral branch is the right size (that's where the skill comes in) then that crotch will take on the role of the top of the tree and growth will continue, albeit at a much lower point. The result is that the tree continues to grow happily and healthily which means a more natural look, just that the tree is now shorter than it would have been otherwise. Crown reduction also avoids the witch's broom of confused shoot growth that can result from tree topping.
Reduction Risks
Crown reductions of any kind are best performed by proven professionals because cutting into and reducing the canopy of a tree, if performed incorrectly, can leave the tree damaged and open to infections and pests through what is effectively a wound. Which is why we believe in a proper surveying and consultation before undertaking any kind of canopy reduction and why you can trust us to do it right. So call today, or mail us a picture of your trees, and we'll talk about cutting them down to size for you.