The Art of Pruning

by Pacific Vista Landscape

It’s winter, so that means it’s time to start pruning! Pruning, the cutting away of branches and stems that are dead or overgrown, is essential when it comes to a tree or shrub’s growth, ability to produce flowers and/or fruit, and its resistance to pests or diseases. With the unnecessary branches and stems gone, there is more energy available to the rest of the plant. This extra energy is used to promote growth and the production of fruit and/or flowers.

Winter is the ideal time to prune most deciduous trees or shrubs because this is when they are dormant and don’t have many leaves that would interfere with pruning. Be aware, not ALL deciduous trees can be pruned in the winter! Avoid pruning maples, birches, dogwoods, walnuts, and elms during the winter because they will begin to ooze sap. This is not only messy, but also dangerous for the tree. Evergreen trees or shrubs shouldn’t be pruned during the winter either because they can develop tip burn in cold temperatures. A few examples of deciduous trees or shrubs you SHOULD prune in winter are roses, hydrangeas, spruce, plum, barberry, juniper, mallow, and sumacs. 

To begin pruning, locate any dead, diseased, or overgrown branches that need to be removed. When cutting a branch from a tree, it’s important to cut along the branch collar. The branch collar on a tree is the scrunched up bark where the branch and trunk come together. When cut here, the tree will naturally form a callus. When removing an unwanted branch that is part of larger branch, avoid leaving behind a stump because this can harm the tree.

Pruning also involves thinning the canopy, which means some branches or stems are removed throughout the tree or shrub to increase airflow and enhance the appearance. When thinning the canopy, it’s important to start from the center and work your way out to the exterior. Make sure to pay constant attention to the appearance of the tree or shrub while you are pruning. It’s suggested to cut the tree or shrub with its natural shape in mind and to avoid giving trees a flat top (also known as scalping). Be careful not to take too much of the plant away while pruning, or the plant won’t survive! 
Pruning is essential in maintaining and caring for a deciduous tree or shrub. A tree or shrub’s ability to grow, bloom, and bear fruit is enhanced when pruned properly in winter.

Safety first! If the tree you want to prune is too large or near power lines, then a professional arborist should be contacted. At Pacific Vista Landscape Services, we are pruning experts! Give us a call and we can help with all your tree trimming and landscaping needs!

Tree Trimming: Palm Trees and Removing Dead Fronds Safely

by Pacific Vista Landscape Services

Photo by Inventist Media

Everywhere we look in Southern California we see palm trees. They're one of our most loved attributes and yet, despite their ubiquity, the only one that is native to our state is the Washingtonia filifera, or more commonly known as the California or Desert Palm Fan. Indigenous or not, tree trimming these palms and removing their dead fronds can be challenging and there are some important considerations in order to keep them looking like the iconic symbol they have become for California.

Palms are not like other trees because they lack secondary growth. This makes trimming them correctly extremely important to avoid structural weakening which cannot be reversed. Since most palms have a singular trunk, any structural weakening of the trunk can make it dangerous to climb and since regular tree trimming standards are not specific to palms, evaluating each palm individually before trimming is a must:

• Inspect the trunk for any cavities, wounds, bleeding, or 'penciling' which is seen when a trunk narrows and then widens again. These all show lack of structural integrity and the possibility of structural failure.
• Inspect the roots and soil for decay, disease, or over-exposure.
• Inspect the trunk for cracks or fissures.
• Any significant lean to the trunk which makes it unsafe to climb.
• Evaluate that the crown, where the fronds come out of, is not excessively big for the trunk creating extra top-heavy weight to the trunk which could cause it to fail during trimming.

If a palm is considered unsafe to climb, a lift must be used instead unless there are other structurally sound trees or buildings next to the palm that can be used to access the dead fronds. Trimming dead palm fronds is hard work and can be very dangerous. If there is more than three years of dead growth, it is even more challenging because it must be accessed from the outside of the fronds instead of underneath since a heavy frond skirt can easily come loose and fall straight down taking the climber with it.

Not only does a clean palm tree look much better, dead fronds make a lovely home for snakes and rodents and should be removed every year. It is important that only professional trained tree trimmers are hired. For instance, if spikes are used to climb, it can make holes in the trunk that do not seal over which can lead to wounds, decay, and disease. Keeping the palm structurally healthy is key to years of beauty.

At Pacific Vista Landscape Services, we have professionals who know how safely prune palm trees and ensure they stay healthy for years to come! Call us today for a quote!

Southern California: Brush Clearance Time!

In the wake of the Powerhouse Fire, we are all reminded it's that time of year to clear brush in our beautiful Southern California.  Even if you have not received an inspection notice from the Los Angeles Fire Department, do not assume that you do not need to be in compliance. By being proactive, your property will be safer in the event of a fire.

Pacific Vista Landscape Services is here for you to help protect your home by clearing the brush and doing it safely and correctly. The Los Angeles Fire Department website has helpful information for homeowners who are getting ready to clear brush around their homes. It is very important to follow their advice as clearing brush has often led to fires when done incorrectly.

LAFD BRUSH CLEARANCE
SAFETY TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS:

"Remember that when clearing your brush, safety is very important. In recent
years many brush fires have started by homeowners attempting to clear their
brush. Many times, the sparks produced from metal blades on motorized
equipment has started fires.

The following are simple guidelines for homeowners to follow to clear their brush
safely:

• Always have a water source readily available. A water extinguisher, garden hose or a few buckets of water. 
• Avoid clearing brush during the peak temperatures of the day, between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm and on days when a Red Flag Alert* has been declared by the Fire Department.
• Only use properly maintained motorized equipment and have a spark arrester when required.
• Do not refuel motorized equipment while motor is running. Use approved fuel-dispensing containers only. 
• Always make sure the hot exhaust on any motorized equipment is clear of any vegetation. (grasses, weeds, shrubs) 
• Do not use metal blades on weed whackers/whips. Use nylon line or plastic blades instead.
• Always wear safety glasses and gloves. Hard hats and dust masks are recommended. 

* Red Flag weather days refer to certain weather conditions that can cause a wild-land fire to
 start and to spread rapidly. These conditions generally exist when the winds exceed 25 mph
 and relative humidity is below 15%."

To see LAFD requirements, click here:

LAFD Sketch of General Requirements

0 to 100 Feet Clearance

100 to 200 Feet Clearance.

For more information, call LAFD at
(818) 374-1111, or visit www.lafd.org/brush .

Pacific Vista Landscape Services is here to help with all you landscaping needs and are experts when it comes to clearing brush. Protect your property as much as possible by being in compliance during this dry fire season. Call us for a quote at 661-222-7525!