Tree pruning is best left to experienced professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing high up 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 correctly can suffer from a lifetime of problems.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and the tree at risk, enlist someone who is trained and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in much stronger trees and a safer environment around your home for several reasons:
- Healthier trees are sturdier and less likely to cause damage during storms
- Maintained trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Pruned trees produce more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees offer shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your property
FL Tree Trimming highly encourages trimming trees that are near your home or those that are a focus of your landscape.
Is Tree Pruning Necessary?
It is not required. But it is beneficial. Trees are very resilient and can grow on their own all over the world, in many different climates and regions, without trimming.
However, there are a lot of benefits of tree pruning, so it’s recommended for any trees that you care about. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that perform an important job for your home, such as shade or wildlife habitat.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Tree pruning is a difficult project. You need the correct tools and a lot of knowledge to guarantee the project is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s OK, because there are several professionals out there who know how to properly prune trees for an affordable price to you including all arborists in Florida we partner with!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when they attempt DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a professional arborist from FL Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth the price!
Trimming Too Much
When done properly, pruning is a never-ending process. Starting when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by an expert if you value them and want to keep them healthy.
A huge mistake that people make when trimming trees by themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they have 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 actual removal cut. It is easier to do this during a time of year that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist will be able to safely trim trees any time of year.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A certified arborist knows exactly where to trim each limb to protect against damage. This cut should be done 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 pests and decay. Cutting too far from it leaves an unsightly stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree trimming results in an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural damage.
Pruning Big Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a large branch.
Conservative trimming every year ensures that the 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 risk 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! During this service, tree trimmers would 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 vast majority of arborists do not practice tree topping anymore.
During DIY tree trimming, you might think this is a good way to lower the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s almost no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call FL Tree Trimming
Here’s the truth. Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Performing this job yourself might seem like a good way to save money, but you could 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 Florida from FL 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 results in strange shapes that might take years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single pruning mistake.
Improper trimming could also result in death of the tree. Cutting off too many branches (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 can also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock can be overcome, but it does take a great deal of care and patience. Even with the right maintenance, a tree undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call FL Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Florida able to come up with a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
