Tree pruning is best left to the pros. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, using chainsaws and dropping heavy branches to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree as well. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can experience a lifetime of damage.
Rather than putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, find a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will lead to healthier trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for several reasons:
- Healthier trees are sturdier and less likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Maintained trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Trimmed trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees provide shade while still allowing air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
PA Tree Trimming highly suggests pruning trees that are near your home or all that are an integral part of your property.
Is Tree Pruning Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is beneficial. Trees are hardy and survive on their own all over the world, in a variety of different climates and regions, without being trimmed.
However, there are several benefits of professional tree trimming, so it’s recommended for trees that you value. This includes 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
Trimming a tree is a complicated project. You are going to need the correct tools and a lot of knowledge to ensure the project is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s alright, because there are plenty of arborists out there who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists in Pennsylvania we team up with!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when they attempt DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from PA Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth paying for!
Trimming Too Much
When done properly, trimming is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be looked after by an arborist if you care about them and want to keep them strong and healthy.
A big mistake people make when pruning trees by themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to correct it all at once. Ideally, you should only cut off 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 there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist is able to safely trim trees any time of year.
Cutting at the Wrong Place
An experienced tree specialist knows exactly where to cut each limb to protect against damage. This cut should occur just beyond the branch collar, the specific place where the branch connects to the tree trunk.
Cutting too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to pests and decay. Cutting too far away from it leaves a stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree trimming results in an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural damage.
Trimming Large Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter really shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch this large can result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.
Conservative trimming every year guarantees that your tree trimmer only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which leads to a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of damaging the tree or exposing it to decay and insects.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! With this service, tree trimmers would just 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 majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping anymore.
As a DIY tree pruning, you might think this is a good 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 almost no chance it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call PA Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.
Performing this job yourself might seem like a way to save money, but you could end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s much safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Pennsylvania from PA Tree Trimming.
Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which produces strange shapes that could take years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single pruning error.
Incorrect pruning could also lead to death of the tree. Cutting off too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can inhibit the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight to continue growing.
Cutting too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock can be overcome, but it takes a lot of care and patience. Even with the right maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call PA Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Pennsylvania able to customize a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
