Tree trimming is best left to the pros. It’s dangerous work, climbing trees, using chainsaws and dropping heavy branches to the ground; and it can be dangerous for the tree as well. Trees that are improperly pruned can sustain a lifetime of problems.
Rather than putting yourself and putting the tree at risk, enlist someone who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment near your house for several reasons:
- Healthier trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during storms
- Maintained trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees offer shade while still allowing air to flow through their canopies and your property
ID Tree Trimming strongly suggests pruning trees that are very close to your house or those that are an integral part of your property.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is beneficial. Trees are very strong and can survive on their own everywhere in the world, in many different climates and regions, without being pruned.
However, there are many benefits of tree trimming, so it’s recommended for trees that you value. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that perform an important service for your house, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Trimming a tree is a difficult project. You need the right 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 several services out there who know exactly how to properly trim trees for an affordable price to you including all arborists in Idaho we partner with!
Below are the 5 most common mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a professional arborist from ID Tree Trimming will know, and that’s why their services are worth paying for!
Trimming Too Much
When done the right way, tree pruning is a never-ending process. Starting when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be looked after by an arborist if you care about them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A huge mistake that homeowners often make when pruning trees by themselves is trimming too much of the tree all at once. This happens because they have let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to fix it all at once. Ideally, you should not cut off more than 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a once. It is easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist will be able to properly prune trees any time of year.
Removing Bark from the Tree
After you cut a tree limb 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 contracting diseases and making it easier for pests and rodents to scurry their way in.
To stop this from occurring, an arborist will make special cuts underneath larger branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these small cuts takes pressure off the branch collar and reduces the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the limb doesn’t rip.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A certified tree specialist knows where to cut each limb to protect against 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 pests and decay. Cutting too far from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree trimming leads to an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural damage.
Trimming Large Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter really shouldn’t be trimmed 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 once each year guarantees that your tree trimmer 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 no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! With this process, tree trimming companies would just cut the top off of the tree to get the desired height. It was neither attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the 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 just one 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 ID Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.
Doing this job yourself might seem like a way to save a little money, but you might end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s a lot safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arbor ist in Idaho from ID Tree Trimming.
Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which causes odd shapes that could require years to correct. The tree might end up looking bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one pruning mistake.
Bad trimming could also lead to death of the tree. Cutting off too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning 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 does take a lot of patience and care. Even with the right care, a tree undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call ID Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Idaho able to devise a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
