When it comes to garden maintenance, people sometimes confuse the terms TREE LOPPING, TREE TRIMMING AND TREE PRUNING. Although they have some similarities, they address different concerns and involve different processes; Not to mention that each service requires various tools and equipment. Let’s take a look at the difference between each tree service.
Tree Lopping, Tree Trimming and Tree Pruning: What’s The Difference?
Before we talk about the differences, it is important to remember their similarities. They are all associated with tree care and involve the process of removing unnecessary or dead tree parts.
Tree Lopping
What do you do when your tree has too many massive branches? Cut them back! Tree lopping is the perfect solution for overgrown and unruly trees. It’s a technique used to modify the tree shape by cutting thick and large branches, usually at the top part of the tree.
It is typically done to prevent trees from reducing back from buildings and overhanging pathways. It is a practice of removing unhealthy and damaged sections that are no longer growing while increasing longevity and promoting new growths around them.
When done incorrectly, tree lopping can be detrimental to the tree’s health. The wrong cut can cause that part of the tree to die. So, ONLY qualified tree arborists must perform this tree service. They should always follow the Australian standard AS 4373 Pruning of Amenity trees and comply with Gold Coast City Council regulations.
The equipment used for tree lopping includes heavy-duty tools such as chainsaws, silky saws (hand saws) and pole saws.
Tree Trimming
‘Beautiful trees make beautiful gardens’.
When left alone for too long, trees can look scraggly and misshapen. However, when well maintained, trees surely add a unique character to any home or property landscape. To create and keep a better tree shape and appearance, go for tree trimming; it is the key to beautiful trees.
Tree trimming entails removing smaller branches and leaves that are lagging in growth compared to their counterparts on other portions of the tree. Although it also involves shaping the limbs, so they don’t encroach on with buildings or obstruct views for drivers/pedestrians below them, generally, tree trimming has more of an ornamental or aesthetic purpose; it can make trees a sight to behold.
Some of the tools used in tree trimming are chainsaws, silky saws, pole saws and hedge trimmers.
Tree Pruning
While tree trimming is all about making trees look aesthetically pleasing, tree pruning focuses on the trees’ future health. It’s the process of removing any loose, dead and diseased limbs and branches so that the tree can flourish. It helps protect trees from pests and diseases.
Proper tree pruning requires the experience and training of an arborist. It is difficult or nearly impossible for someone without advanced tree care knowledge to identify if a branch needs to be removed.
Tree pruning uses various tools, including chainsaws, pole saws and silky saws.
What Tree Care Service Do I Need? Tree Lopping, Tree Trimming or Tree Pruning?
Aside from being an essential part of our ecosystem, trees provide many aesthetic and practical benefits for gardens and properties. That’s why tree care is a must.
There’s a thin line of difference between each tree service, but to make it simpler, you can look at it this way:
- Tree lopping is the PAST, where the intent is to remove thick and huge branches that have accumulated over time and have the potential to cause danger to their surroundings.
- Tree trimming is the PRESENT where smaller branches are cut to make trees pleasing to the eyes.
- Tree pruning is the FUTURE where the purpose is to help trees continuously flourish and thrive.
Find out the correct type of service you need for your property, speak with our tree specialists or arborists.
