Trimming your trees judiciously helps them by removing branches that are dead and diseased and those that cross and rub dangerously against one another. Trimming and pruning can also open a tree’s crowded interior to let in more sunlight and air. However, trimming a tree the wrong way can be deadly. Here are some trimming mistakes to avoid. Of course, if you’re nervous about trimming your own trees, you should call an arborist.
1. Overdoing It
Once you get started, it may be easy to remove too many of the tree’s branches. This can stress the tree to the point where it will have trouble recovering. Arborists recommend that you not take away more than 25% of the tree during a trimming session.
2. Topping
Topping is when you basically chop off the top part of the tree just to make it shorter. This is rather catastrophic because the branches that grow back are weak, sickly, and vulnerable to pests, storms, and diseases. It also, frankly, destroys the tree’s aesthetic value and may deform it in ways that make it harder to take care of properly.
3. Using Dull Tools
One of the worst things you can do with regard to tree trimming is to use dull tools that don’t make clean cuts. Rather, they crush the branches and make them vulnerable to sickness and infestation. The problem is made that much worse when the tools are not only dull but dirty. Dirty tools can spread infection from one tree to another.
4. Making the Wrong Cuts
Another dangerous mistake is to make cuts just anywhere on the tree. Too much of this can cause the tree to actually become unstable. An arborist knows that every removed limb should be removed for a reason. The reason could be to take away a limb that’s dead or sick or to make the tree shapelier. Another wrong type of cut is to cut a limb flush to the trunk. This destroys the branch collar, a structure that helps the tree heal. Without the branch collar, the tree is more at risk of decay.
5. Pruning During the Growing Season
It’s fine to trim away dead or diseased branches any time you find them, and some species of trees need pruning during the warm months. However, serious trimming is ideally done when the tree is dormant. Trimming while the tree is burgeoning attracts pests and diseases. The tree also takes a longer time to heal.
Call Our Arborists for Trimming and Pruning Services
Trimming and pruning your trees is as much of an art as it is a science. If your trees need trimming and pruning or other care, don’t hesitate to call our skilled arborists at Hangin’ Limbs of Lyons, GA.