Tree trimming is best left to professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing high up trees, wielding chainsaws and dropping heavy branches to the ground; and it can also be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can suffer from a lifetime of issues.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and the tree at risk, hire a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in much healthier trees and a safer environment surrounding your house for several reasons:
- Healthy trees are stronger and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Cared for trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees produce more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees provide shade and allow air to flow throughout their canopies and your property
NY Tree Trimming strongly encourages pruning trees that are near your home or any that are a focus of your property.
Is Tree Pruning Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is important. Trees are strong and are able to grow on their own all over the world, in many different climates and locations, without pruning.
However, there are many benefits of tree trimming, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you care about. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that offer an important service for your house, such as shade or wildlife habitat.
Tree Trimming Gone Wrong
Trimming a tree is a complex task. You are going to need the right tools and a lot of information to guarantee the project is done correctly. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s OK, because there are many arborists out there who know exactly how to correctly prune trees for an affordable price to you including all arborists throughout New York we work with!
Here are the 5 mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a professional arborist from NY Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth the price!
Trimming Too Much
When done the right way, pruning is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by an arborist if you care about them and intend to keep them healthy.
A big mistake people often make when trimming trees themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they have let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to fix it all at once. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at the actual removal cut. It is easier to do this during a time of year that the leaves are off, but a certified arborist will be able to safely prune trees any time of year.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A certified tree specialist knows exactly where to trim each limb to prevent damage. This cut should be done just beyond the branch collar, the specific place where the branch connects to the trunk.
Cutting 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 Big Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch this large can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a large branch.
Conservative pruning every year ensures that your tree trimmer only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which leads to a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of damaging the tree or exposing it to disease and insects.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! During this process, tree trimmers would cut the top off of the tree to get the desired height. It was not attractive nor beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping currently.
During DIY tree pruning, you may think this is an easy way to reduce the height of your tree with just 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 NY Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Attempting this project yourself might seem like a good way to save a little money, but you might end up with way more cost trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s much safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in New York from NY Tree Trimming.
Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which leads to odd shapes that could require years to correct. The tree might end up looking bad for the remainder of its life, all because of a single pruning error.
Improper trimming could also result in death of the tree. Cutting off too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can affect the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get enough water or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue healthy growth.
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 undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call NY Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in New York able to customize a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
