Tree pruning is best left to the pros. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, wielding chainsaws and dropping heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it can also be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned correctly can suffer from a lifetime of issues.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, enlist an arborist who is knowledgeable and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in much healthier trees and a safer environment near your home for several reasons:
- Healthy trees are stronger and not as likely to cause damage during storms
- Maintained trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Trimmed trees produce more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees create shade and allow air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
DE Tree Trimming highly recommends pruning trees that are near your house or any that are a focus of your landscape.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is important. Trees are very resilient and can survive on their own all over the world, in various different climates and locations, without being trimmed.
That said, there are a lot of benefits of tree trimming, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you care about. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that offer an important job for your house, such as shade or wildlife habitat.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Pruning a tree is a difficult project. You are going to need the right equipment and a lot of information to guarantee the job is done right. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s OK, because there are a lot of services available who know how to correctly trim trees for an affordable price to you including all of the certified arborists in Delaware we team up with!
Below are the 5 mistakes people make when they attempt DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from DE Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth paying for!
Pruning Too Much
When done the right way, tree trimming is an ongoing process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by an expert if you value them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A huge mistake people often make when pruning trees by themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to fix it all immediately. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at the final removal cut. It is a lot easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist is able to properly prune trees any time of year.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A trained tree specialist knows exactly where to cut each limb to protect against damage. This cut should be made just beyond the branch collar, the exact place where the branch connects to the trunk.
Trimming too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to decay, mildew and pests. Cutting too far from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic damage.
Pruning Large Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can cause imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and decay as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative trimming every year guarantees that the tree service company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of damaging the tree or exposing it to disease and pests.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! In this process, arborists would just cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was not attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of arborists do not practice tree topping currently.
As a DIY tree trimming, you might think this is an easy way to lower the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s virtually no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call DE Tree Trimming
Let’s face it. Your tree may never recover from bad trimming.
Attempting this project yourself might seem like a good way to save a little money, but you might end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s much safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Delaware from DE Tree Trimming.
Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which produces strange shapes that could require years to correct. The tree might look bad for the rest of its life, all because of just one trimming error.
Incorrect pruning could also result in death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can inhibit the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight to continue healthy growth.
Cutting off too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock can be overcome, but it does take a great deal of care and patience. Even with the right maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call DE Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Delaware able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
