Tree Maintenance Service – Shaping Nature, Safely and Sustainably

Trees do more than just add an aesthetic element to the landscape. They offer shade, fresh air and a sense of natural peace. But like any living thing, trees need care to stay healthy, safe and strong. To achieve this goal, one must search for tree maintenance services near me in Limerick. From pruning to shaping of the trees, this service protects your property and helps the greenery of your garden to thrive all year round. Whether you have one backyard tree or a full garden canopy, giving your trees the attention they deserve can make all the difference. Let’s explore why tree maintenance is essential and its role in maintaining plum trees.

Types of Tasks Offered Under Tree Maintenance Services

1. Tree Removal

Tree removal is necessary when a tree becomes dead, diseased or poses a safety risk to nearby structures or people. This service involves carefully dismantling and removing the tree either in sections or as a whole using specialised tools and safety techniques.

2. Crown Reduction & Topping

Crown reduction involves reducing the overall size of a tree’s canopy by cutting the back branches, which is usually done to alleviate weight stress or reduce shading. On the other hand, topping removes the upper part of the crown and is more drastic and typically used in specific cases where height reduction is quite urgent.

3. Tree Shaping

Tree shaping offers a more artistic approach to trimming. In this method, the trees are pruned to grow in a desired shape or style. This eventually enhances the tree's appearance, complements landscaping design and supports healthy growth of the trees.

4. Tree Thinning

Thinning is all about selectively removing the branches throughout the crown to improve air circulation, allow more light to reach the ground as well as the inner branches and reduce the weight on heavy limbs. It’s particularly useful for preventing disease, promoting even growth and protecting the tree from wind damage.

5. Tree Pruning

Tree pruning is a routine maintenance task that includes cutting away dead, diseased or crossing branches. This task is essential for maintaining the tree’s health, preventing any major structural problems and maintaining the safety of the nearby surroundings.

6. Stump Grinding and Removal

After a tree is removed, the stump that gets left behind can be unsightly or hazardous. Stump grinding reduces the stump to wood chips using a grinding machine, while full stump removal involves extracting the entire stump from its roots. This service is primarily availed to clear the area for replanting or landscaping. 

7. Tree Felling

Tree felling is the process of cutting down a tree from the base in one controlled motion. This method is used when there’s enough space for the tree to fall down without damaging nearby structures. However, executing this task requires experience and precision to achieve the goal safely and efficiently.

8. Tree Cutting

This is a general term that covers various cutting techniques used for maintenance, hazard reduction or aesthetic purposes. It can include removing overgrown branches, clearing limbs near power lines or cutting back trees encroaching on property boundaries.

9. Removal of Dangerous Trees with a Crane

For those trees that are too large, unstable or located in difficult areas (such as near buildings or over power lines), cranes are used for safe and precise removal. This technique allows arborists to remove trees piece by piece without creating any risk to the surrounding environment or people.

10. Hedge Cutting

Hedge cutting involves trimming and shaping the hedges to keep them healthy, dense and in a neat condition. With the help of regular hedge maintenance, one can prevent the overgrowth of trees, improve their overall appearance and enhance privacy or property boundaries. It also encourages new, lush growth of the trees.

An Overview of Pruning Plum Trees

To achieve healthy growth, maximise the production of fruit and maintain a strong structure, plum trees often require regular pruning and maintenance. Pruning is considered to be one of the critical aspects required to maintain the plum trees.

This technique aids in shaping the tree, increasing the production of fruit and minimising the risk of diseases. With the help of the right tools and techniques, the plum tree would remain healthy and productive.

Understanding the Need behind Pruning Plum Trees

Ideally, four significant reasons describe the need to prune plum trees at regular intervals; otherwise, it could cause undue stress on the trees. Let’s take a look at the reasons and key plum tree pruning techniques –

1. Removing dead and diseased wood: To prevent the spread of pests and infestations, the dead or diseased branches must be removed from the trees. This facilitates enhancing the overall health of the trees while promoting healthy growth.

Technique: Only selectively cut away the dead, damaged or diseased branches.

2. Shaping the tree: Plum trees are primarily shaped for two important reasons, which are –

Creating a strong framework to support the weight of the heavy fruit loads

Preventing overcrowding of branches, leading to breakage or uneven growth

Technique: Plum trees can either be pruned in an open-centred or central-leader shape. If you opt for open-centred, try to remove the central trunk located above the strong lateral branch, as it encourages the tree to grow outward.

In case you opt for a central-leader shape, try to maintain a dominant central trunk with well-spaced lateral branches.

3. Thinning of the plum tree branches: Sometimes, the healthy branches of the plum trees need to be removed deliberately for the following reasons:

• Allowing sunlight and air to reach the inner canopy
• Mitigates the risk of fungal diseases
• Promotes even ripening of the fruit

Technique: Carefully select those branches that either cross or crowd each other.

4. Pruning for fruit production: Besides promoting a healthy growth of the trees, plum trees are also pruned to promote excessive fruit production rather than vegetative growth.

Technique: Only two-thirds of the lateral branches are removed to achieve this goal.

Tools Used for Pruning Plum Trees

For pruning, the use of the right kind of tools is absolutely necessary to achieve the desired clean cuts while minimising the damage inflicted on the trees. However, these tools must be sterilised before and after fulfilling their purpose. Some of the common tools used in this method are –

• Loppers: Used for cutting thicker branches up to 2 inches in diameter
• Pole pruners: Used for reaching the high branches without using any kind of ladder
• Hand pruners: Perfect for eliminating the small branches and twigs
• Pruning saws: Ideal for removing the large branches or cutting through the tough wood

Conclusion

Maintaining the trees regularly is essential for the safety of the surroundings, promoting healthy growth of the trees and maintaining a beautiful landscape. This kind of professional care ensures your trees continue to thrive and enhance your outdoor space all year round.

So, if you want to avail of this sustainable method to amplify the beauty and health of the garden, then contact the experts of Tree Surgeons & Pro Gardening. We offer professional tree care services using mountaineering methods. All you need to do is search for “tree maintenance near me Limerick” and avail of a wide range of services.