Summer is a great month for gardeners. Finally, you can see all your hard work come to fruition as you sit under your large shady tree after a morning of gardening and admire your beautiful shrubs and flower beds. But what do you do if, while you are enjoying the shade of your tree, you look up and notice a couple of precarious branches that look as though they might blow off in a strong wind? It’s time for professional tree pruning services.Trees and shrubs do most of their growing during the spring but often it is only when the summer sets in that you notice the large or misshapen branches that are hanging too low or getting too close to the roof of your home. But don’t despair, in most cases tree pruning can be carried out in the summer to correct these issues before they become problems, but there are a few things that you need to be aware of before you start hacking away at those branches or dramatically altering the shape of your tree. Summer Pruning Techniques Although summer pruning is not ideal, there are times when it is necessary or unavoidable and then, provided you do it correctly, your tree should not come to any harm. If you are in any doubt or are uncertain about summer pruning, it is best to consult a professional tree pruning service for advice.Most summer pruning is about the removal of dead wood and branches that are broken, rubbing or interfering with one another. Removing these branches will enable the tree to remain strong and healthy with a good branch structure that can withstand high winds and stormy weather. Horizontal branches and low hanging limbs should be cut back to reduce excessive strain on the tree. Remember, pests and diseases are rife in the summer and a tree with open pruning wounds will be more vulnerable to an insect attack or infection. Therefore, when you prune, smaller cuts are preferable to large ones and the correct place to make a cut is the branch collar as this allows the wound to heal more rapidly, minimizing the risk of branch decay, disease, and insect attacks. Cuts should be made back to secondary or lateral branches, but avoid flush cuts close to the trunk of the tree as this could be detrimental to its health. Avoiding Common MistakesThe best time to prune trees is when they are dormant and have no leaves but sometimes summer pruning is unavoidable. There is nothing wrong with removing a few smaller branches in the summer, but heavy pruning should only be carried out if the tree poses a risk to your safety or that of your property. If your tree has broken, low hanging or weak branches, you should deal with these as soon as possible.When summer tree pruning is unavoidable, it is important to get the basics right, be careful and do not over prune your tree or remove too many branches as this could cause serious long-term problems. A tree needs its leaves for shade and to produce food. If an excessive amount of foliage is removed, the tree might not be able to produce enough food and could look unhealthy or, even worse, die. Over pruned trees are susceptible to sunscald or sunburn and the sudden influx of sunlight can seriously affect the health of the tree bark causing cracks, decay or permanent damage to the branches.Incorrect summer pruning can cause irreparable damage to your trees and if you are new to gardening or unsure of what you are doing, it is always best to consult a professional tree pruning service. Martin’s Tree Services can take care of all your summer pruning needs and make sure that your trees are both beautiful and healthy. Steve Martin I have a profound interest in trees and their natural beauty. I grew up on a hobby farm ten minutes north of Waterloo and spent many winters in the bush collecting firewood to heat our family home. It was definitely work, so I wasn’t always eager as a young boy to help my father and big brother, but I learned to love the process... READ MORE