Tree pruning is best left to trained professionals. It’s dangerous work, climbing high up trees, wielding chainsaws and dropping heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree as well. Trees that are improperly pruned can sustain a lifetime of damage.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree itself at risk, hire an arborist who is trained and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in much stronger trees and a safer environment near your house for several reasons:
- Healthy trees are sturdier and less likely to cause damage during storms
- Cared for trees don’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
- Trimmed trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees provide shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your property
NV Tree Trimming highly encourages pruning trees that are very close to your house or all that are a focus of your landscape.
Is Tree Pruning Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are hardy and grow on their own everywhere in the world, in many different climates and locations, without pruning.
However, there are a lot of benefits of tree trimming, so it’s highly recommended for any trees that you value. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that perform an important service for your home, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Trimming Gone Wrong
Tree pruning is a difficult task. You are going to need the right tools and a lot of information to ensure the job is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s alright, because there are many arborists out there who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable price to you including all arborists in Nevada we team up with!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from NV Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth paying for!
Pruning Too Much
When done the right way, pruning is an ongoing process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be looked after by an arborist if you value them and want to keep them healthy.
A huge mistake homeowners make when trimming trees by themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they have let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to correct 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 the leaves are off, but a certified arborist is able to safely prune trees any time of year.
Pruning in the Wrong Place
An experienced tree specialist knows exactly where to trim each limb to protect against damage. This cut should be done 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 away from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree pruning results in 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 necessary. Cutting off a branch this large can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and decay as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative trimming every year ensures that the tree service company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which leads to a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of hurting the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! With this process, arborists would just cut the top off of the tree to get the desired height. It was neither attractive nor beneficial for the tree, so the majority of arborists do not practice tree topping currently.
As a DIY tree pruning, you may think this is a good way to lower the height of your tree with just one cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s almost no chance that it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call NV Tree Trimming
Let’s face it. Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.
Performing this job yourself might seem like a 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 Nevada from NV Tree Trimming.
Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which can result in strange shapes that might take years to correct. The tree might look bad for the remainder of its life, all because of a single trimming mistake.
Bad pruning could also result in death of the tree. Cutting off too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can affect the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight to continue healthy growth.
Cutting too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t necessarily permanent, but it does take a great deal of care and patience. Even with the right maintenance, a tree undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call NV Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Nevada able to devise a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
