Tree trimming is best left to the pros. It’s dangerous work, climbing high up trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that are improperly pruned can experience a lifetime of damage.
Rather than putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, find someone who is trained and experienced to do the job for you.
This will lead to stronger trees and a safer environment near your home for several reasons:
- Healthy trees are stronger and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Cared for trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees create shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your landscaping
NC Tree Trimming highly encourages pruning trees that are very close to your home or any that are an integral part of your property.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are very hardy and can survive on their own across the world, in many different climates and locations, without pruning.
That said, there are many 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 offer an important job for your home, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Trimming Gone Wrong
Tree pruning is a complex project. You need the correct equipment and a lot of information to guarantee the job is done right. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s not a problem, because there are several companies available who know how to correctly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists throughout North Carolina we work with!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree pruning that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from NC Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth the price!
Pruning Too Much
When done the right way, pruning 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 strong and healthy.
A big mistake people often make when pruning trees by themselves is cutting too much of the tree all at once. 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 a once. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that the leaves are off, but a certified arborist will be able to properly trim trees any time of year.
Removing Bark from the Tree
After you cut a tree branch and gravity starts pulling it down, it can tear off bark from the 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 insects to scurry their way in.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, an arborist will make special cuts underneath large branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these initial cuts takes pressure off the branch collar and lowers the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the limb doesn’t tear.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
An experienced arborist knows exactly where to cut each limb to protect against damage. This cut should be made 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 from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree trimming leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic problems.
Pruning Large Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter really shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and decay as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative pruning every year ensures that the tree service company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which results in a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of harming 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 service, tree trimming companies would cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was not attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of arborists 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 just one cut, but once you have cut the top of a tree off, there’s almost no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call NC Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.
Performing this job 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 really safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in North Carolina from NC Tree Trimming.
Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which {can result in|produces strange shapes that might require years to correct. The tree could end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of just one pruning error.
Incorrect trimming could also lead to death of the tree. Removing too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get enough water or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight to continue healthy growth.
Cutting off too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock can be overcome, but it takes a great deal of patience and care. Even with the right maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call NC Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in North Carolina able to devise a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
