If your yard has a poplar tree that has been growing wild for a few years, then it is important you prune it this spring. If you do not take the time to prune the tree, it will grow out of control and will be harder to prune and shape at a later date. A tree that has not been properly maintained can take many years of pruning to get it back to a healthy state. When pruning your poplar tree, follow these tips:
Tip: Prune Your Trees for Health Before Final Shape
While you may be tempted to stand back and look at your tree, decide on a final shape, and then start whacking away it, this is one of the worst things you can do. Before you consider the final shape for your tree, first you must prune the tree with an eye towards its health. For example, all crossing branches need to be removed because they form wounds on the tree when the wind blows. In addition, all broken branches also need to be removed because they are common sites for insect infestations to start. For these reasons, you need to start your pruning session by removing branches that could cause health problems for the tree and then decide on a final shape.
Tip: Prune All Growth on the Lower Third of the Tree's Trunk
Every spring your poplar tree will send out a ton of sprouts along the lower third portion of its trunk. If you do not prune off this growth each year, then pretty soon your tree will look like a giant bush. To prevent this, you need to prune all of the growth off of the lower third of the tree's trunk every spring.
Tip: Prune Off Vertical Branches on the Interior of the Tree
If you stand at the base of your poplar tree's trunk and look upward into the tree, then you will invariably see branches that are growing vertically in the interior of the tree. These branches prevent air from flowing around inside of the tree's crown and will cause health problems for your tree when they get too long and break off. For this reason, you should remove as many of the vertical branches as possible.
Tip: Have a Professional Arborist Prune Your Tree If It is Too Tall for You to Safely Reach the Branches
If you do not have any experience pruning trees, it is important to note that you should never do so standing on a ladder. You should never trim any branches that you cannot comfortably reach using a pole saw. If you can't reach the upper portion of your poplar tree, then have it pruned by a professional tree removal service.
