Is there an area of your property where you just cannot get plants, flowers and grass to grow? Is the problem caused by an excessive amount of shade from big, beautiful trees? Well, there is something that you can do about it.

What is causing the problems with vegetation growth?

When you are trying to grow vegetation of any kind under a healthy tree, those plants are likely not thriving because the tree is preventing the sun and fresh air from providing them with the nutrients that they need.

What is the solution?

The best solution is to lace the tree. Tree lacing is the thinning of the tree so that more sunlight and air gets through the canopy to the ground below. Not only will this help the vegetation below, it will help the tree to stay healthier, look more beautiful and reduce the chances of insect infestations in the tree.

How do you lace a tree?

First, gather the supplies needed to complete the project. You will need:

• Ladder
• Pole pruner
• Hand pruner

Now, take a good look at the tree from all angles. You need to get a good idea of what branches can be removed from the tree without distorting the shape. Once you have a game plan, begin pruning.

• Step 1: Start with the dead branches. To properly remove the branches, cut a wedge about 3 or 4 inches away from the trunk on the underside of the branch. Now, make the cut from the top of the branch at an angle – start cutting roughly 1 inch further away from the trunk than the wedge and cut back towards the wedge cut.
• Step 2: After you have removed the dead branches, start looking for branches that shoot out into the shape of a V. Since this shape of growth can cause weight issues later, pruning one of the two branches shooting from the V now will help to thin the tree and prevent cracking later. Use the same cutting procedure as above.
• Step 3: If the tree still needs a bit more lacing, look for branches that grow very close together. Cut one of the branches to thin the area.

When done properly, the tree will look have a lace-like appearance as the sun shines through it. If this doesn't seem like a project that you can complete on your own, or you worry that you will do more harm than good, contact a local tree trimming expert like L & M Tree Services for assistance.