Tree pruning is best left to experienced professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, wielding chainsaws and dropping heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it can also be dangerous for the tree as well. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can suffer from a lifetime of issues.
Rather than putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, call someone who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will lead to much healthier trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for many reasons:
- Healthier trees are stronger and less likely to cause damage during storms
- Cared for trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees provide shade and allow air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
KS Tree Trimming strongly suggests trimming trees that are very close to your house or any that are an integral part of your landscape.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is important. Trees are very hardy and are able to survive on their own across the world, in a variety of different climates and regions, without trimming.
However, there are a lot of benefits of tree pruning, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you value. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that perform an important service for your home, such as shade or wildlife habitat.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Tree trimming is a complex project. You need the correct equipment and a lot of information to guarantee the project is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s not a problem, because there are many companies available who know exactly how to correctly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists throughout Kansas we work with!
Below are the 5 most common mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a professional arborist from KS Tree Trimming will know, and that’s why their services are worth paying for!
Pruning Too Much
When done properly, pruning is a never-ending process. Starting when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be looked after by an expert if you care about them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A huge mistake that people often make when pruning trees themselves is cutting too much of the tree all at once. This occurs because they let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to correct it all immediately. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a time. It is much easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but a certified arborist will be able to properly prune trees any time of year.
Removing Bark from the Tree
When you cut a tree branch and gravity starts to pull 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 attracting diseases and making it easier for pests and rodents to scurry their way in.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, an experienced arborist will make special cuts underneath large branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing how to place these small cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and reduces the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A trained arborist knows exactly where to trim each limb to protect against damage. This cut should occur just beyond the branch collar, the exact place where the branch connects to the tree trunk.
Cutting too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to insects, decay and mildew. Cutting too far from it leaves a stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree pruning results in an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural damage.
Trimming Large Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and rot as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative trimming once each year guarantees 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 risk of hurting the tree or exposing it to disease and insects.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! During this service, tree trimmers would cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was not attractive nor beneficial for the tree, so the majority of arborists do not practice tree topping anymore.
During DIY tree trimming, you might think this is a good way to reduce the height of your tree with just one cut, but once you have cut the top of a tree off, there’s almost no chance that it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call KS Tree Trimming
Let’s face it. Your tree may never recover from bad pruning.
Doing this project yourself might seem like a way to save a little money, but you could 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 Kansas from KS 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 leads to odd shapes that could take years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the remainder of its life, all because of a single pruning error.
Improper trimming could also cause death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get all of the water it needs or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.
Cutting off 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 the right maintenance, a tree undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call KS Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Kansas able to customize a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
