So your neighbor says, “I’m going to prune my trees today,” and then you look at your trees and think they probably also need a trim. This may have made you wonder if there is a difference between tree pruning and trimming for your North Shore property.

Well, the short answer is yes. Both of these activities involve removing branches from trees, but the difference lies in the reason for their removal. Let us take a closer look at these two tree maintenance activities and determine which one your trees need. 

Tree Pruning

You can compare pruning to your regular check-up with your doctor. Several things will be checked to keep your tree in good health. 

• Dead or diseased branches will be identified and removed to prevent the problem from spreading to other healthy branches and to promote new growth. 
• Branches that are rubbing against each other or building structures can suffer from damage to their bark. Pruning these will prevent this type of harm.
• Branches touching power lines must be carefully pruned to prevent any damage to the tree.

Tree Trimming

Trimming is more like having a haircut to improve your style and appearance. It is about the way the tree looks, but it can also improve its health in the long run. 

• Shape and size: removing parts of a tree to affect its shape and size is a trimming activity.
• Encroachment: Trees that are expanding over boundary walls, washing lines and buildings will need to be trimmed to prevent property damage. 
• Trimming can also remove some of the bulk of the tree, making it more light and airy and allowing better growth for plants beneath it.
• Topiary: Training trees and shrubs into non-natural shapes such as balls, spirals, and other geometric forms. A skilled topiarist can even create animals and other fantasy characters from a tree or shrub.

Our Arborist Services

Our experienced team will assess your trees and property to offer expert advice on any pruning or trimming you may require. We also carry out crown lifting, crown thinning, deadwooding, tree topping, and a range of other services to ensure your trees’ healthy growth and longevity. 

We do tree removal services in extreme cases, such as when trees have died or suffered extensive storm damage. 

Contact HortCulture today for all your tree trimming and pruning requirements on your North Shore property. Our experienced arborists can tend to all the needs of your trees with care.