Difference between pruning and trimming

When you have one or more trees on your property, you must maintain them regularly. This limits their growth and maintains their health for a longer life. The question arises : should pruning or trimming be done ? To the uninitiated, these two techniques seem to be the same. However, there are differences between these processes. Discover them in detail.

What is pruning ?

Pruning consists of trimming, shortening and removing the branches of a tree according to the circumstances while taking into account its health. You can prune dead branches or get rid of excess branches to improve fruit quality. Pruning is also recommended if you wish to improve the aesthetic aspect of the tree. In all cases, preserving the health of the tree is paramount and you must proceed with control.

There are different types of pruning depending on your needs :

• Sanitation pruning : which consists of removing diseased or dead branches from the tree in order to improve its health and the quality of the fruit it produces ;
• Directional pruning : which consists in redirecting the growth of the tree by pruning the branches considered dangerous for the existing structures (house, electric cables…) ;
• Thinning pruning : which consists in eliminating certain branches in order to bring a better luminosity in a given area.

What is pruning ?

Pruning consists of cutting off the top of a tree, i.e. topping it. In other words, this technique consists of cutting the tree radically in order to reduce its height without having to cut it down. Pruning is often done for safety reasons : the tree threatens to fall on a structure in high winds, or its dense foliage prevents light from reaching the windows of the house.

Unlike pruning, pruning does not take into account the health of the tree. The goal is to cut all the branches from a certain height. This technique can sometimes be harmful to the tree, especially if the height is misjudged.

The growth of the tree will be accelerated after pruning. This technique also shortens its lifespan. For all these reasons, professionals rarely recommend this technique, and prefer to opt for pruning, whenever possible.

Why call a professional for your pruning and trimming projects ?

Whether it’s pruning or trimming, it’s not easy to do. Doing either of these sometimes requires climbing to heights, which could put you at risk of falling. For this reason, we strongly advise against doing these tasks yourself.

At Arboxygène, we have a team equipped with professional equipment to carry out your pruning and trimming projects. Our technicians also have the know-how and experience to preserve the health of your trees while guaranteeing a job well done. By calling on our services, you can be sure of a quality finish and a healthy tree.