Tree trimming is best left to professionals. It’s dangerous work, climbing trees, wielding chainsaws and lowering heavy branches to the ground; and it can also be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that are improperly pruned can sustain a lifetime of damage.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and the tree at risk, enlist an arborist who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will lead to much stronger trees and a safer environment near your house for several reasons:
- Healthy trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during storms
- Cared for trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Trimmed trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees provide shade while still allowing air to flow throughout their canopies and your property
OR Tree Trimming highly encourages pruning trees that are near your home or those that are a focus of your landscape.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are very hardy and grow on their own across the world, in a variety of different climates and locations, without trimming.
However, there are several benefits of professional tree pruning, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you value. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that perform an important service for your house, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Tree trimming is a complicated task. You need the right tools and a lot of information to guarantee the job is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s alright, because there are many professionals available who know exactly how to correctly prune trees for an affordable cost to you including all arborists throughout Oregon we work with!
Here are the 5 mistakes homeowners make when they attempt DIY tree pruning that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from OR Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth paying for!
Pruning Too Much
When done the right way, trimming is an ongoing process. Starting when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by an expert if you value them and desire to keep them healthy.
A huge mistake homeowners make when pruning trees themselves is trimming too much of the tree all at once. This occurs because they let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to fix it all immediately. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a once. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that the leaves are off, but an experienced arborist will be able to properly trim trees any time of year.
Removing Tree Bark
When you cut a tree limb and gravity starts pulling it down, it can rip bark from the trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, leaving the tree in danger of attracting diseases and making it easier for insects to scurry their way in.
To stop this from occurring, an experienced arborist will make special cuts beneath big branches before making their final removal cut. Knowing how to place these initial cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and limits the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the tree limb doesn’t tear.
Cutting at the Wrong Place
A trained tree specialist knows where to cut each limb to prevent damage. This cut should be done 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 has recovered. Most DIY tree trimming results in an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural 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 result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a large branch.
Conservative pruning once each year ensures that your tree trimmer 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 risk of harming 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! In this process, tree trimming companies would 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 anymore.
As a DIY tree trimming, 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 the top of a tree off, there’s virtually no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call OR Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Attempting this job yourself might seem like a good way to save 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 Oregon from OR Tree Trimming.
Limbs don’t grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which leads to strange shapes that could require years to fix. The tree might look bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single pruning mistake.
Incorrect pruning could also lead to 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 sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.
Cutting too many branches can also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t always permanent, but it takes a lot of care and patience. Even with the right maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call OR Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Oregon able to come up with a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
