Tree pruning is best left to the pros. It’s dangerous work, climbing high up trees, wielding chainsaws and lowering heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree as well. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can suffer from a lifetime of damage.
Rather than putting yourself and putting the tree itself at risk, enlist an arborist who is trained and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment near your home for many reasons:
- Healthier trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Maintained trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees offer shade and allow air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
WY Tree Trimming highly recommends trimming trees that are near your home 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 grow on their own all over the world, in various different climates and locations, without pruning.
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 flowering trees or trees that offer an important job for your house, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Tree pruning is a complicated project. You need the correct tools and a lot of information to ensure the project is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s alright, because there are a lot of companies out there who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all arborists in Wyoming we team up with!
Below are the 5 mistakes people make when they attempt DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a certified arborist from WY Tree Trimming will know, and that’s why their services are worth the price!
Pruning Too Much
When done the right way, tree pruning is an ongoing process. Beginning when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by an arborist if you value them and want to keep them healthy.
A big mistake people often make when pruning trees by themselves is cutting 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 at once. Ideally, you should not cut off more than 5-20% of the tree’s crown at the final removal cut. 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 safely prune trees any time of year.
Pruning in the Wrong Place
A trained arborist knows exactly 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 decay, mildew and pests. Cutting too far away from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree trimming leads to an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural damage.
Pruning 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 insects and rot as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative pruning every year ensures 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 chance of harming the tree or exposing it to decay and insects.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! With this service, tree trimming companies would cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was not attractive nor beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of arborists do not practice tree topping currently.
As a DIY tree pruning, you may think this is an easy 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 it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call WY Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Doing this job yourself might seem like a good way to save money, but you could end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s really safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Wyoming from WY Tree Trimming.
Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which causes strange shapes that could require years to fix. The tree could look bad for the rest of its life, all because of just one trimming error.
Bad pruning could also cause death of the tree. Cutting off too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can inhibit the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get all of the water it needs or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight to continue growing.
Cutting off too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t always permanent, but it takes a great deal of care and patience. Even with the right care, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call WY Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Wyoming able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
