Tree trimming is best left to trained professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing high up trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned properly can suffer from a lifetime of damage.
Rather than putting yourself and the tree at risk, call someone who is trained and experienced to do it for you.
This will lead to much stronger trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for many reasons:
- Healthier trees are stronger and not as likely to cause damage during storms
- Cared for trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees create shade and allow air to flow throughout their canopies and your property
CT Tree Trimming highly recommends pruning trees that are very close to your house or all that are an integral part of your property.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not required. But it is beneficial. Trees are very strong and are able to survive on their own all over the world, in many different climates and locations, without trimming.
However, there are a lot of benefits of professional tree pruning, so it’s recommended for trees that you value. This can include 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
Pruning a tree is a difficult task. You need the correct tools and a lot of information to guarantee the project is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s alright, because there are several arborists out there who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable price to you including all of the certified arborists in Connecticut we team up with!
Below are the 5 most common mistakes people make when they attempt DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a trained arborist from CT Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth paying for!
Trimming Too Much
When done correctly, pruning is an ongoing process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by a professional if you care about them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A big mistake that people often make when pruning trees by themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to correct it all at once. Ideally, you should not cut off more than 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a time. It is a lot easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist will be able to properly trim trees any time of year.
Removing Bark from the Tree
When you cut a tree branch and gravity starts pulling it down, it can tear off bark from the tree trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, putting the tree in danger of contracting diseases and making it easier for insects to scurry their way in.
To stop this from happening, an arborist makes special cuts underneath large branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing how to place these small cuts takes pressure off the branch collar and lowers the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.
Cutting at the Wrong Place
An experienced arborist knows where to trim each limb to prevent damage. This cut should be made just beyond the branch collar, the exact place where the branch connects to the trunk.
Cutting too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to insects, decay and mildew. Cutting too far away from it leaves an unsightly stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic damage.
Pruning Big Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and decay as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative trimming once each year guarantees that the tree service company only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of hurting the tree or exposing it to disease and insects.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated 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 neither attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping currently.
As a DIY tree pruning, you might think this is a good way to lower the height of your tree with only a single cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s virtually no chance it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call CT Tree Trimming
Here’s the truth. Your tree may never recover from bad pruning.
Doing 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 a lot safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Connecticut from CT Tree Trimming.
Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which can result in odd shapes that might take years to correct. The tree might end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of just one trimming error.
Bad pruning could also result in death of the tree. Removing too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight 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 patience and care. Even with proper care, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call CT Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Connecticut able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
