Tree pruning is best left to the pros. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy branches to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can sustain a lifetime of issues.
Rather than putting yourself and the tree at risk, find a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will lead to much healthier trees and a safer environment near your house for many reasons:
- Healthy trees are sturdier and less likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Maintained trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees offer shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your landscaping
TN Tree Trimming strongly suggests trimming trees that are near your house or all that are a focus of your landscape.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is important. Trees are very strong and survive on their own all over the world, in various different climates and regions, without pruning.
However, there are a lot of benefits of professional tree trimming, so it’s recommended for any trees that you care about. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering 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 complex task. You are going to need the right equipment and a lot of knowledge to ensure the project is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s OK, because there are several companies out there who know how to correctly prune trees for an affordable cost to you including all arborists in Tennessee we partner with!
Below are the 5 mistakes people make when they attempt DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from TN Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth paying for!
Pruning Too Much
When done correctly, tree pruning is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by a professional if you value them and desire to keep them healthy.
A huge mistake people often make when pruning trees by themselves is trimming too much of the tree all at once. This happens because they have let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to fix it all at once. 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 will be able to properly prune trees any time of year.
Cutting at the Wrong Place
An experienced tree specialist knows where to trim each limb to prevent damage. This cut should occur just beyond the branch collar, the exact place where the branch connects to the tree 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 has recovered. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural problems.
Pruning Large Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can cause imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and decay as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative pruning once each year ensures 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 risk of harming the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! In this process, tree trimming companies would 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 tree care companies do not practice tree topping anymore.
As a DIY tree pruning, you might think this is an easy way to reduce the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut the top of a tree off, there’s virtually no chance it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call TN Tree Trimming
Here’s the truth. Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Performing 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 Tennessee from TN 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 results in odd shapes that might take years to correct. The tree might look bad for the rest of its life, all because of just one trimming mistake.
Improper pruning could also lead to death of the tree. Cutting off too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get enough water or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.
Cutting too many branches might 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 proper care, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call TN Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Tennessee able to come up with a plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
