Types of tree pruning:
Crown lifting - for access
Thinning: to reduce crowding and congestion for the tree allowing in more light and air flow.
Reduction: to reduce weight.
General Maintenance:
You can mulch anytime of the year, with a varied of products, wood/bark chipping, leaf mulch, straw, well rotted manure, decorative stones, spent mushroom compost etc. Apply around the base of the tree to suppress weeds, lock in moisture and feed some nutrients.
Mulching also improves soil structure,
Before Mulching clear away fallen leaves, fallen fruit, weeds, pruning etc.
Signs that a tree would need some TLC;
- A visual inspection of the tree from base to the top of the crown, using binoculars to ensure a good visual. you would be looking for dead branches in the crown, damaged and shedding branches and any epicormic growth, that may need removing.
- If a tree has a cavity then follow CODIT and monitor the situation.
- Zoning -
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Bracket fungus, a fungus that grows on the trunk and looks like umbrellas, this is a sure sign that the tree may need felling. You can monitor the tree by measuring the size of any fruiting fungal bodies over a period of time.
If a tree has an displaced branches then they will need removing to balance the tree crown.