When talking about trimming, people tend to think this is something which should only be done on older and larger trees. In fact, trees should be looked after practically as soon they are planted. This practice is called “Young Tree Training”, and it refers to a type of pruning designed to improve branch structure at an early stage. In this article we tell you the benefits of adopting this method. It is cheaper in the long run The earlier your start trimming your trees, the less work you will have to do after. According to a University of Massachusetts (UMASS) study, tree training significantly reduces both the likelihood of limb or trunk failure and the need for corrective pruning and other maintenance over time. This, in turn, means less spending in the future. Actually, if you wait for too long and then have to remove larger branches, you will be encouraging new and faster growth. In some species, you can have sprouts growing up to twenty-five feet in one single year! The new growth won’t stop until it regains (at least), the parent branch’s original size. So, within a couple of years, you’ll need to have your tree trimmed again. It helps tress develop a stronger structure It is always good to get your tree started off on the right foot, and training is about that. By training, limb strength is improved, vigorous growth encouraged, and increased longevity ensured (Schiffler, 2020). It is common to see branches growing too close to each other. Either through early pruning or by helping them grow away will guarantee a more regular shape in the long run because branches will be better distributed and you’ll avoid having to chop them off once they’re too big. Trained trees look much much better Have you ever seen those trees with thick trunks and branches but little foliage? That’s because if trees are not trained or regularly pruned, all of the sudden you have to chop large branches off, thus breaking the harmony of the tree’s natural shape. And the nightmare doesn’t end there: as defense mechanism, the tree responds by growing multiple new branches just below the cuts! Instead, if you remove unwanted branches from the beginning, and if you guide the tree to grow as you want it, you’ll increase the tree’s aesthetic value. It is safer A good arborist knows from the very beginning when a branch will cause trouble in, five, ten, or even twenty years, and they will make sure you trim them in advance. Sometimes this is not evident, and weaker branches may fall during storms, causing damage to people or your property. Also, when a presumably dangerous branch is removed, in certain occasions, the new growth is less anchored. This means it won’t have the same structural strength than the parent branch, making it easier for it to break off easily.