Trees aren't just a pretty part of a home's landscaping. Their branches and canopies can help improve privacy, shade a home during hot summer days, and block frigid winds in the winter.

Yet it's easy to overlook a tree when it comes to home maintenance tasks. Since a tree is a natural part of the landscape, you might think it will do well on its own with little or no attention from the homeowner.

However, regular pruning is a good way to improve a tree's health and appearace. The Arbor Day Foundation says the process can remove dead or diseased branches, allowing the tree to thrive. This also minimizes the possibility that dead branches will fall and cause injury or damage.

When to prune

Light pruning, including the removal of dead wood, can take place anytime during the year. A more intensive pruning should be timed to avoid causing damage to the tree.

Pruning is most beneficial when it takes place in late winter. The University of Minnesota Extension says the wounds left from removing branches, suckers, and other tree growth will heal more quickly if they are made shortly before the spring growing season. It can also be easier to assess the tree and access the branches you want to remove when leaves are not present.

Some trees, like azaleas and lilacs, should be pruned shortly after they are finished flowering. Others, like dogwood or honeysuckle, should be pruned in the spring before new growth begins. After you've planted a tree, pruning early on can help shape and strengthen it.

Evergreens typically don't need to be pruned, though some will benefit from a trimming in the early spring. Marie Iannotti, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says fruit trees should be pruned once they go dormant.

Pruning can be completed in the summer in order to remove dead branches and otherwise correct unwanted growth. The Arbor Day Foundation says pruning can also be completed in the winter, although it is best to wait until after the coldest temperatures have passed.

Avoid pruning during the autumn. Cuts will heal more slowly during this season, and fungi that cause decay will spread more rapidly.

How to prune

A few simple tools will suffice for pruning. The University of Minnesota Extension says pruning sheers are good for small branches and twigs, while lopping shears provide better leverage for medium-sized branches. Large branches should be cut with a handsaw, and pole saws can help you reach higher branches without using a ladder.

Assess the tree and decide how the tree should be pruned. Some options include selectively thinning out branches in the crown to improve light and air circulation; raising the crown, or removing lower branches to prevent interference with sidewalks, driveways, and other home features; and crown cleaning, or removing dead or diseased wood from the top of the tree. Branches can also be removed to reduce the height of the crown, although this should only be done if absolutely necessary.

Look for problem areas that should be addressed. If two branches are rubbing against each other, remove one of them. The University of Maryland Extension says you should also remove malformed or crowded branches, suckers and water sprouts that grow vertically from branches or roots, and branches growing from the same spot on the trunk. The tree should also have only one leader, or vertical stem at the top of the trunk.

The largest branches, those with a diameter of at least three inches, should be removed first. Karen Bussolini, writing for This Old House, says these cuts should be done in three steps. Start by sawing partway through the branch, in the direction you want the branch to fall away, about six inches from where the final cut should be. You can then saw from the other side to remove the branch. Cut away the remaining six-inch stub to leave the branch collar, or swollen tissue present where the branch attaches to the trunk.

Smaller branches and suckers should also be clipped or cut away close to the branch collar, but take care not to cut into the bark. Doing so will make the tree more vulnerable to disease.

Avoid topping the tree, or removing large branches or even part of the trunk from the top of the tree. The University of Maryland Extension says doing so makes the tree more vulnerable to rot, and the suckers that grow from the cut will eventually become weaker branches that are more likely to break off.

Calling in the pros

Many homeowners will be able to prune small, ornamental trees on their own. If the tree is taller or requires more extensive pruning, hiring a professional tree care company might be prudent.

This service is particularly valuable if the pruning will require major cuts. The University of Minnesota Extension says chain saws may be necessary for larger branches, but shouldn't be lifted above your shoulders or used while on a ladder. A professional tree service will have cranes and other equipment to better access the highest parts of a tree.

While pruning can be done using a ladder, you may want to consider hiring a service if you aren't comfortable with heights or aren't sure of your expertise. Mindy Charski, writing for Realtor.com, says heavy branches can cause damage or swing and hit you if you don't cut them properly.

Calling in a professional tree service can be expensive, but it will only be required occasionally. Most trees will only need to be pruned every three to five years.