Tree pruning is best left to professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy branches to the ground; and it can be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned correctly can suffer from a lifetime of damage.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, enlist someone who is trained and experienced to do the job for you.
This will lead to much stronger trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for several 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 produce more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees offer shade while still allowing air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
MO Tree Trimming strongly encourages trimming 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 beneficial. Trees are very resilient and survive on their own everywhere in the world, in many different climates and regions, without being pruned.
That said, there are several benefits of tree trimming, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you care about. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that offer an important service for your home, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Tree trimming is a difficult task. You are going to need the correct tools and a lot of knowledge to ensure the job is done right. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s OK, because there are many professionals available who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all arborists in Missouri we work with!
Below are the 5 mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a certified arborist from MO Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth the price!
Pruning Too Much
When done properly, tree pruning is a never-ending process. Starting when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be care for by an expert if you care about them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A huge mistake that people make when pruning trees themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they have let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to correct it all immediately. 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 there are no leaves, but a certified arborist is able to safely prune trees any time of year.
Removing Tree Bark
After you cut a tree limb and gravity starts to pull it down, it can rip 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, a trained arborist makes special cuts underneath big branches before making their final removal cut. Knowing 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 branch doesn’t rip.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A certified arborist knows 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 decay, mildew and pests. Cutting too far away from it leaves a stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic issues.
Trimming Large Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can cause imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.
Conservative pruning annually ensures that the tree service company only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which leads to a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of harming the tree or exposing it to disease and pests.
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 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.
During 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 off the top of a tree, there’s almost no chance it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call MO Tree Trimming
Let’s face it. Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.
Attempting this project 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 Missouri from MO Tree Trimming.
Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which can lead to odd shapes that could require years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one trimming mistake.
Improper pruning could also result in death of the tree. Cutting off too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can affect the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get all of the water it needs or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.
Cutting too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t necessarily permanent, but it takes a lot of care and patience. Even with the right care, a tree undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call MO Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Missouri able to customize a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
