When it’s time to prune your favorite shrub or tree — deciduous trees should be pruned in winter, while evergreen trees are best pruned after flowering — it’s important to do so properly so you can ensure a healthy, attractive plant. And if you’ve looked into pruning, you’ve probably heard terms like “crown raising,” “heading” or “thinning,” among others, being used to describe the type of pruning method needed. But what do these words all mean?

Why Is Pruning Important?

Before you head outdoors and start cutting away at the shrubs and trees in your garden, or consider forgoing pruning, let’s take a few moments to understand why pruning is important.

It encourages strong branching and removes weak or crossing branches.

It eliminates dead or diseased wood.

It stimulates new, attractive growth.

It helps to improve resistance to windy conditions.

It promotes good air circulation, which decreases the incidence of fungal disease.

In short, proper pruning practices are an important part of maintaining woody plants like trees and shrubs.

Pruning Terms To Know

Crown:  The upper part of the tree, made up of the branches, stems and leaves — also referred to as the “canopy.”

Crown Cleaning:  Pruning away dead or diseased branches and stems. This also includes the removal of any “stubs,” which are the dead base of a branch that wasn’t pruned back to the trunk.

Crown Raising:  Removing lower branches back to the trunk to elevate the crown of a tree or shrub. Crown raising is often done to provide clearance for pedestrians, cars or anything else that might be under the tree.

Crown Reduction: The removal of a percentage of the outer part of a tree or shrub by pruning back the leaves, stems and branches. This is often done to prevent wind damage or a tree from blowing over.

Crown Thinning:  Involves the removal of select interior branches to improve air flow and reduce the weight of the tree. The overall shape and size of the tree remains the same when this type of pruning is done.

Heading back:  Pruning back branches up to half of their length to reduce outward growth. This is done with shrubs to reduce their size while promoting a natural shape. Heading back is also done to long, overhanging branches on trees to reduce the weight at the ends and to keep them from touching buildings or other structures.

Root prune: Roots are pruned, and a root barrier often put in place, when they cause problems with foundations, sidewalks or walls through cracks or uplifting. It’s important to have an arborist (a professional tree cutter) do this work, since removing too many roots can kill your tree.

Shearing: This type of pruning is done to shrubs using hedge trimmers to remove a percentage of their outer growth. It is commonly used to create formal hedges or topiary shapes.

Structural Pruning: This type of pruning is usually done on young trees and focuses on creating a strong form by selecting the branches that will give the tree a nice shape, along with strength to withstand windy conditions. Branches that are growing in the wrong direction or have a weak attachment to the trunk are removed.

Topping: This is the removal of the top part of a tree, often done to improve a view or keep a tree from growing into power lines. This type of pruning should never be done, for a number of reasons: It leaves the top of the tree susceptible to sunburn and insect infestations, while the new branches that grow back have weak attachment to the tree and are more prone to breakage and are hazardous. Topping also makes the tree grow faster in its attempt to replace the lost foliage, creating a vicious cycle.

Crown reduction can be done by a professional for trees that need their height reduced. The best option is to prevent the problem from occurring by considering the mature height of trees before planting. The good news is that if you have a tree that has been topped, it can be restored by an arborist by a process known as “crown restoration.”

Pruning Tools

Let’s take a look at the common tools used.

Chainsaw: This is a power saw is used to prune larger branches that other pruning tools can’t. They come in different blade sizes and power levels.

Hand Pruners: This is the smallest pruning tool, used to make cuts that are under 1 inch in diameter. While there are different types of these smaller pruning tools, “bypass pruners” are most recommended — made of two curved blades that bypass each other, creating a clean cut. They are used for making heading and thinning cuts.

Hedge Trimmer: This pruning tool comes in two different forms: manual and power. The manual hedge trimmer looks like giant scissors and is best used to create formal hedges, cutting the small, twiggy growth that makes up the outer part of shrubs. The power version looks very different, with oscillating blades that shear back outer growth easily. Hedge trimmers are used for shearing cuts.

Loppers: The large bypass blades of this garden tool cut through branches that are three-quarters of an inch to 2 inches in diameter. They have long handles, which enable the user to prune tree branches and also reach into the interior of shrubs. A pair of loppers is a great tool for pruning rose bushes.

Pole pruner: Pole pruners are for making pruning cuts up into the canopy of trees while allowing you to keep your feet on the ground. There are different types, which include manual and power saws mounted at the end of an adjustable pole, often reaching up to 16 feet in length. Manual pole pruners have a pruning saw at the end as well as a bypass pruner that is operated by pulling a cord. The power option is a mini chainsaw that can reach up to prune larger branches.

Pruning Saw: A manual saw that is perfect for cutting through branches that are over 1½ inches in diameter. Pruning saws are the tool of choice for limbs too big for loppers. The blade is either straight or slightly curved, sometimes folding into the handle when not in use. With some effort, it will cut through most small to medium branches up to 6 inches in diameter.

Garage dimensions have remained about the same for many years: 9 to 10 feet wide, 2.8 to 3 meters and 18 to 20 feet, 5.5 to 6 meters long per car, with a single garage door width of 8 feet, 2.4 meters. The difference in garage dimensions now is that we tend to want more space for storing our stuff along with the car.

It seems that car designers are always enlarging, shrinking and then enlarging their models again to adjust for the latest fashions and technologies, not to mention the price of gas. But there are common parameters that will help you in planning a new garage or remodeling an existing one.

If you have ever scraped your car alongside a garage door frame, you will sympathize with your ancestors, who may have driven even larger cars. Let’s take a look at the dimensions of most garage designs today.

Garage Door Dimensions

Width: 

Single-car doors begin at 8 feet wide, 2.4 meters. You can also get 9-foot-wide doors, 2.7 meters, which will lessen the chance of scraping the fenders on the door frame. 

Doors made for two cars can be as little as 14 feet wide, 4.3 meters, but are more commonly 15 or 16 feet wide, 4.6 or 4.9 meters.

Height: 

The standard garage door height is 7 feet, 2.1 meters, but an 8-foot, 2.4-meter height is also available. You can get a custom height for an additional cost.

Two-Car Garage Dimensions

The single 16-foot-wide, 4.9-meter-wide garage door is large enough to allow two cars to fit and is a common configuration. It is also a good idea to have a 3-foot-wide door to the exterior on the side of the garage. As for the door going into the house from the garage, you will want it to be at least 32 inches, 81 centimeters wide.

Hot-water heaters and mechanical systems are often placed in the garage. If this is done, it is best to create an alcove, or add more depth or width to the 20-foot minimum to accommodate that equipment.

Three-Car Garage Dimensions

A three-vehicle garage common dimensions for just cars is 32 feet wide, 9.8 meters and 22 feet deep, 6.7 meters . Add more space for built-in cabinets or be willing to have a tighter fit.

Common Vehicle Dimensions

Leave at least 36 inches, 0.9 meter between cars so that you can open their doors without hitting another car door. You can go slightly less on side walls, but be certain you can comfortably enter and exit your car.

Vans and SUVs:

◦  Width: 6 to 7 feet / 1.8 to 2.1 meters

◦  Length: 16 to 19 feet / 4.9 to 5.8 meters

◦  Height: 5 to 6 feet / 1.5 to 1.8 meters

Large and Luxury Cars:

◦  Width: 6 to 6½ feet / 1.8 to 1.9 meters

◦  Length: 16 to 18 feet / 4.9 to 5.5 meters

◦  Height: 4½ to 5 feet (1.4 to 1.5 meters

Compact and Sports Cars:

◦  Width: 5 to 6 feet / 1.5 to 1.8 meters

◦  Length: 14 to 16 feet / 4.3 to 4.9 meters

◦  Height: 4 to 5 feet / 1.2 to 1.5 meters

Other Garage Considerations

Storage

Garage cabinet systems have similar dimensions to those in kitchens. You can buy base units that are 24 inches, 61 centimeters deep, but some come in depths of 12 or 18 inches, 30 or 45 centimeters as well. Coordinate these with the dimensions of your car so you will know how much space you can use for storage.

Stairs

Steps that go directly into the interior of the house are ideal. Steps with 6-inch, 15-centimeter risers and a platform or stoop are ideal; it is best to keep risers under 8 inches, 20 centimeters. Make sure you find out about local code restrictions and be certain to follow them.

Bumpers or Curbs

Having a curb opposite the garage door will keep your vehicles from running into the facing wall. If you make it 4 inches high, it will be low enough so the front bumpers don’t scrape. Even if you have an existing garage with a level floor, you can find bumpers to mount onto the floor to solve this problem.

Driveway

Driveways to the garage can eat up considerable space on your property. Balancing one with your home’s design takes careful planning.

Most will simply be in a straight line from the street to the garage, but if you are planning a motor court, consider that the turning diameter for a car is between 40 and 50 feet, 12.2 and 15.2 meters. You need at least 25 feet, 7.6 meters to comfortably back up and then begin a turn to move forward.

Zoning and Regulations

Many zoning and building codes have minimum dimensions for garages, so be certain you know those when planning your design. Local building codes also address door hardware, protection of the mechanical systems from cars and garage door openers, so consult a design professional to be sure you are covered for these issues.

Garage Door Design Ideas

Be generous with details around garage doors. They are usually prominent features on a house simply because of their scale. You want to complement your architecture while paying close attention to the scale of other elements on the house.

Details and good proportions help elevate design. Two single doors often look better than one wide door, because the proportions coordinate better.

When a double door must be used, consider the design. Multipane windows and appropriately proportioned panels can complement the home’s design. Save double doors for contemporary architecture in which horizontal lines dominate the theme.

Also consider your garage‘s relative height to the finished front view of your house so as not to take away from the architecture and streetscape. While this solution is likely on the upper end of budget parameters, you should consider how the dimensions of your garage will affect the aesthetics of your house. Using single doors rather than double, setting the face of the garage back from the primary elevation and blending the design of the doors into the building are just some tricks to keep your garage proportions from overtaking your house.

Get a jump on preparing your house for the holidays so you can relax and enjoy the season’s simple pleasures.

With Christmas approaching and the winter holidays around the corner, there are things to look forward to and prepare for this time of year — even with the adjustments we are having to make because of the pandemic. Batten down the hatches for winter and get a jump on holiday prep, so you can relax and savor the pleasures of the season, like family dinners and walks in the crisp outdoors.

Things to Check Off In An Hour Or Less

Replace Floor Protectors On Chairs 

Don’t let dining chairs do damage to your hardwood floors: Check their feet and add or replace floor-protecting pads if needed. Felt pads come in self-adhesive and nail-in varieties; if you’re using the self-adhesive type, be sure to clean the base of each chair foot thoroughly and allow it to dry before applying.

Examine The Sump Pump 

If you have a sump pump in your basement as protection in case of flooding, make sure it is working properly before the rainy season really gets going, and then repair or replace it if needed.

Check Paths, Stairs and Railings For Safety 

Slips and falls on ice and snow can happen anywhere, but they’re even more likely if the footing is uneven or a railing isn’t sturdy. Take a walk around your home’s exterior, paying special attention to walkways, stairs and railings, and make repairs as needed.

Show Some Kindness To Feathered Friends

Non-migrating birds can use extra help when wild food becomes scarce and water sources freeze. Stock up now on birdseed so you can keep those feeders full, and consider providing a water source as well — refresh it daily to prevent mosquitoes.

Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend

Get A Jump On Holiday Prep

If you plan to have a special holiday, take a bit of time now to prepare a few things in advance. Launder and iron the fancy linens (roll up freshly ironed linens on old wrapping paper tubes to prevent wrinkles), drop off the kitchen knives for a professional sharpening or polish some silver — you’ll thank yourself later.

Deep-Clean Bathrooms 

Aim to schedule a deep cleaning of the bathrooms so a quick surface wipe-down will be all you’ll need to get things looking spotless again during the holidays.

Check Bathtub Caulk And Repair If Needed

While cleaning the bathroom, notice the condition of the caulk around the tub. Cracked or worn out caulk can allow water to seep into your home’s framing. If you spot a problem area, get it replaced as soon as possible.

Inspect House Exterior And Cover Gaps 

Cover any gaps you find around the exterior of your home that may be large enough for a mouse to enter — it doesn’t take much space for these little critters to sneak in. Cover exterior vents with hardware cloth, and attach door sweeps to the bottoms of exterior doors to stop furry creatures from squeezing in when the weather turns chilly.

Remove The Last Of The Fall Leaves 

Aim to fit in one final raking and gutter-cleaning session once the last leaves have fallen — but before the first snow.

Maintenance and Extras To Budget For

Fix Plumbing Issues Before The Holiday Crunch 

Have a slow drain, stuck garbage disposal or finicky toilet? Don’t wait until the busy holiday season, when it may be harder to find a plumber who’s available. Fix it now.

Force Bulbs Indoors 

Potted bulbs make a lovely, thoughtful gift, and if you’re potting them for yourself, it’s easy enough to make a bunch to give away throughout the holiday season.

Stock Up For Winter 

If you live in a region with cold, snowy winters, taking the time now to stock up on winter gear and supplies will mean less stress when that first big storm hits.

◦  Check snow shovels and ice scrapers; replace as needed.

◦  If you use a fireplace or wood stove, order firewood.

◦  Pick up a bag of pet- and plant-safe ice melt.

◦  Restock emergency kits for car and home.

◦  If you use a snow blower, have it serviced and purchase fuel.

◦  If your home has an emergency power generator, review safety standards and check that it’s working properly.