In the same way that having a good haircut changes the look of a person, trees and shrubs transform when placed on healthy lawn maintenance schedules as well. Trimming and pruning can really make the difference between your lawn or garden having the appearance of an overgrown jungle or a peaceful sanctuary.

Many people think that trimming and pruning are the same services when, in fact, they are very different from each other. It is easy to understand why one may get them confused because they both have to do with your trees and your shrubs, however, trimming and pruning have very different purposes, techniques, required tools, and schedule requirements than one another, along with several other differences. Having the proper understanding of these terms will make it easier to decide how you should go about scheduling each of these services to set your trees and shrubs up for success.

What is trimming?

Landscape maintenance professional trimming a shrub in Bethalto, IL.

Trimming is something you want to hire a professional to do for your landscape when it's time to clean up the appearance of your trees and shrubs. This service is simply the act of cleaning up the overgrown parts of your plants to give your property a more aesthetically pleasing look. You can even get creative and shape your shrubs how you want, including circle and square shapes. All Element Turf & Outdoor Solutions, LLC landscape maintenance professionals are trained in trimming and can either give your trees and shrubs a small trim just to clean them up or give your property a whole new look with new shrub shapes.

Here are some indicators that your trees and shrubs are in need of a trim:

  • Look for any leaves or branches that are loose or growing wildly. Any brown and shriveled leaves can be trimmed to increase the aesthetics of your property.
  • Overgrowing branches from trees and shrubs are also great to trim. This is especially necessary for areas where walkways are impeded or overhanging occurs in places that could cause potential damage and injury to persons.
  • When the access to sunlight is impaired due to plant overgrowth, it's time to trim. Sunlight should be able to reach the stems, branches, and roots as well.

Trimming your shrubs and trees will help brighten up your property's aesthetic and give your landscape a clean, manicured look.

What is pruning?

Person pruning a shrub in Godfrey, IL.

Pruning should take place for vegetation that has any clear signs of disease, fungus, damage, or rotting. Pruning targets the health of any greenery that isn't thriving due to unhealthy limbs and other components. Pruning is also important because it helps get rid of any pesky insects that may be infesting the vegetation. It is so important to only remove dead, diseased, or infected leaves and branches when pruning. If healthy branches are removed, this could negatively impact the future growth of your trees and shrubs and cause further damage.

Every type of vegetation is different and needs different pruning schedules. The overall rule of thumb is to prune in the spring season before the plant buds. However, it is best to check with a professional team like ours to ensure that you don't accidentally prune your plant at the wrong time and harm it further.

Call us to schedule an appointment for trimming and pruning services!

Now that you understand the difference between trimming and pruning, hopefully it is clear that your trees and shrubs will need both to thrive. We offer 5-star landscape maintenance services in the Alton, Godfrey and Edwardsville, IL area, as well as nearby communities such as Glen Carbon. To schedule your trimming and pruning maintenance services, give us a call at (618) 467-7047 today!