When most property owners think about pruning their trees, they naturally think about making them smaller or less full. But did you know that pruning trees also makes them grow more and better? Here are five reasons why this counterintuitive result occurs.

1. Less Falling Risk

One thing that will seriously set back your tree's growth? Broken limbs and branches. While you can't prevent every possible injury to or breakage of a tree limb, you can take proactive action to prevent unnecessary damage. Pruning allows professionals to assess the health of each trunk, joint, and branch and remove ones most likely to fall in the near future — especially during sudden extreme weather. 

2. Removal of Problem Limbs

Branches that are unhealthy, diseased, or even struggling take up nutrients that could be used by other branches. That tree will continue to funnel resources in vain attempts to bring these areas back, and you can only stop this by removing the dead or dying elements. Then, those resources go to healthy parts and can be used better to promote growth. 

3. Encouraging Fruit to Grow

Tree owners with fruit trees should schedule regular pruning of active fruit trees. This removes more fruit as well as non-producing spurs. As a result, the tree has more opportunities to grow even more fruit on more spurs. 

4. Trains Tree Growth

Even if a tree is growing at a decent pace, is it growing in the right way? Does one side grow in different shapes or heights, resulting in a misshapen look? Are you getting too much growth over a neighbor's fence, which might be trimmed off by the neighbor? Do limbs grow more horizontally rather than stretching tall? Dealing with any of these growth issues after the fact means removing them and stunting the tree. Managing them in advance through strategic training promotes a better ongoing experience. 

5. Improved Light and Circulation

Trimming back a canopy allows more sunlight to reach lower branches and roots. It also provides room for air to circulate around the tree, its trunk, and — most importantly — its roots. Trees need good circulation and evaporation to prevent disease, excess moisture and mold, and root rot. 

Where to Start

Could your tree's growth be improved in any of these ways? Then start by learning more about tree trimming options available to you. Meet with a tree service in your area today and start helping your trees become all they can be.