Tree trimming is best left to professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing high up trees, wielding chainsaws and dropping heavy branches to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can suffer from a lifetime of problems.
Instead of putting yourself and putting the tree at risk, enlist someone who is trained and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment surrounding your landscaping for many reasons:
- Healthier trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during storms
- Maintained trees don’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
- Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees provide shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your landscaping
NH Tree Trimming strongly suggests pruning trees that are near your house or any that are an integral part of your landscape.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are very hardy and are able to survive on their own all over the world, in many different climates and regions, without pruning.
However, there are many benefits of professional tree trimming, so it’s highly recommended for trees that you care about. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that perform 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 right 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 alright, because there are plenty of professionals available who know exactly how to properly prune trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists throughout New Hampshire we team up with!
Below are the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a certified arborist from NH Tree Trimming will know, and that’s why their services are worth paying for!
Trimming 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 maintained by an arborist if you value them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A big mistake people make when trimming trees themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they 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 time. It is a lot easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but a certified arborist is able to safely trim trees any time of year.
Removing Tree Bark
After you cut a tree limb and gravity starts pulling it down, it can tear off bark from the tree trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, leaving the tree in danger of contracting diseases and making it easier for insects to find their way in.
To stop this from occurring, a trained arborist will make special cuts underneath large branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these small cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and reduces the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the tree limb doesn’t rip.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A trained arborist knows where to trim 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.
Trimming 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 pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic damage.
Pruning Big Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a large branch.
Conservative pruning once each year guarantees that your tree trimmer only has to remove 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 pests.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! In this service, tree trimming companies would cut the top off of the tree to get the desired height. It was not attractive nor beneficial for the tree, so the majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping currently.
During DIY tree pruning, you might think this is a good way to reduce the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s virtually no chance that it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call NH Tree Trimming
Let’s face it. Your tree may never recover from bad pruning.
Attempting this job yourself might seem like a way to save a little 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 New Hampshire from NH Tree Trimming.
Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which leads to odd shapes that could take years to correct. The tree could end up looking bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one trimming mistake.
Incorrect trimming could also cause death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can alter 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 too many branches might 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 NH Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in New Hampshire able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
