Can You “Train” a Tree? Stein Tree Service Discusses Tree Training

You may think training a tree is the same as pruning, but training a tree is slightly different in the approach compared to pruning. While pruning can be used to enhance the beauty of a tree, pruning is most often used to maintain tree health and appearance. For example, pruning would be making pruning cuts to sides of a tree because the branches are too close to a building.

Tree training, on the other hand, is about altering the shape of a tree rather than adjusting or maintaining the shape when problems arise. Tying branches down or propping them up from the ground are examples of techniques used to train trees.

The following is a quick look at some different types of training methods and recommendations:

Pollard is when upper tree branches are removed to create a fuller topping of foliage and smaller branches. This encourages more vigorous growth at the top, and helps maintain trees at a specific and desired height.

This trimming technique trains trees and shrubs to grow up trellises, walls, and other flat surfaces. You may have seen apple and pear trees against walls or fences on farms. While often used for decorative purposes, espalier is also helpful for increasing production on fruit trees as the process exposes plants to more sunlight (and makes fruit picking a lot easier).

Pleaching is a technique that weaves branches together to create a seemingly cohesive wall. Pleaching is a time-intensive process that makes hedges stronger and thicker, a good option for protection, privacy, and animal control.

You have likely seen this tree training technique in people’s houses or gardens. Topiary is a popular pruning technique that involves training plants and trees by clipping foliage and twigs to create defined shapes. If you have ever seen a hedged transformed into animals or a a maze, you have seen an instance of topiary.

Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and pruning a tree or shrub in a pot to have the specimen stay small but mimic the tree’s mature form. A beautiful example is the Copper Beech tree that makes for a colorful addition to anyone’s private bonsai collection. However, this delicate tree can also be planted outside and allowed to grow to its mature size as long as the tree is carefully and gradually pruned by a professional with a long-term plan in mind.

Stein Tree Service focuses foremost on tree health, but we often do train trees to keep their proper shapes and stay within desired boundaries (i.e., keeping a mature tree from growing its branches into electrical lines). Proper planting is important, which includes choosing the right specimen to ensure the tree or shrub has room to mature to its natural full size.

We are eager to help ensure your trees reach their full potential. For more information about tree training and other best tips and practices for trimming your shrubs and trees, contact us today.