How Often Should You Prune Trees And Trim Hedges?

There are many reasons for pruning or trimming your trees and hedges but one benefit remains constant. From improving aesthetics through to reducing the chances of limb drop, carrying out maintenance of any type will result in healthy growth. Knowing when and how to go about proper pruning or trimming comes with time and experience working with the various species littered throughout South-East Queensland. So how often should you prune trees to get the best results?

Does The Age Of The Tree Matter When Pruning?

The age of the tree in question does have an impact in terms of when it’s the best to carry out pruning. Younger trees should be pruned every 2 to 3 years at a minimum but it is recommended that you understand the species you are working with before carrying it out. Because you are dealing with a younger tree it is imperative that you know how to prune it to promote growth without causing harm and permanently stunting it.

Larger, older trees can be pruned less often, depending on how it is looking. We recommend inspecting the trees in your yard to check for key signs that it needs some pruning. These include dead or dying limbs, uneven growth or limbs that are overhanging your neighbour’s yard. As a general rule of thumb we recommend having older trees pruned every 3 to 5 years in order to keep them healthy and safe to be around.

How Often Should You Trim Hedges?

Your hedges can be trimmed back as often as you like and deciding the right time to carry this out can be dependent on a couple of factors. As hedges can be used purely for decorations, trimming might be carried out regularly to keep them looking neat and tidy. If they have been planted for privacy reasons, how often you trim them to promote growth will depend on whether they are deciduous or not.

A deciduous plant is one that sheds its leaves annually and hedges that fit into this class should be trimmed back 1 or 2 times a year. In order to get the best results you should be aware of when the hedge will be dropping its leaves. Again this means having a proper understanding of the species you are working with. For hedges that are not deciduous we recommend a light pruning once a year until they reach their desired height or form.

Talk To A Qualified Arborist About Best Pruning Practises

A common theme throughout this article has been how important it is to understand the species you are working with. This can determine not only the best time to carry out pruning but also what the best way to go about it. We have been working throughout South-East Queensland for decades now and possess a deep understanding of the local flora that thrives throughout our region.

We recommend getting in touch for a consultation should you wish to learn more about the plants throughout your yard. Our team of qualified arborists can offer valuable insights into best care practices and what signs you should be looking for to determine the best time to prune. It takes a long time to grow a tree but only a moment to make the wrong cut so it makes sense to play it safe and inform yourself on how to best carry out the task.

We also offer tree pruning and hedge trimming as a service should you wish to sit back and let the experts go at it. We offer on site inspections and obligation free quotes on all work and we look forward to carrying out safe and effective tree pruning throughout your property. We can also provide advice for further care so you can get the best results possible. For commercial, strata or civil buildings we also offer regular maintenance plans.

To talk with an expert about best pruning practices, or to arrange us to carry out tree pruning on your property, give us a call on 0431 740 088. You can also get in touch with us online by heading to our contact page and filling in our online form.