Picture this. You’re walking down the street on a blustery day, and you see dead-looking tree limbs on several trees in a neighborhood that is normally healthy and pleasant. All of a sudden a huge gust of wind sends a large, rotting tree branch plummeting to the ground, landing dangerously close to you. You could have been injured. In our last blog－Tree Pruning: When should you do it?－we discussed safety as a primary reason you should prune your trees, in addition to curb appeal and tree health. One particular pruning method, deadwooding, specifically involves the removal of dead branches from an otherwise healthy tree. This process offers a few benefits to homeowners, property managers, and the general public.

Some of you may be wondering, “What exactly is tree pruning, and why does it matter to me?” Tree pruning is typically the removal of dead, diseased, or weak branches. The benefits of this process are threefold: it promotes and sustains healthy growth, prevents damage to property or injury to individuals, and improves curb appeal. Removing unnecessary limbs can eradicate infestation or disease, as well as provide more light and airflow for better growth. In some cases, trees do not grow properly, interfering with their environment (e.g., power lines and building clearance), and must be corrected.