Tree pruning is best left to professionals. It’s dangerous work, climbing high up trees, using chainsaws and dropping heavy branches to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned properly can sustain a lifetime of damage.
Rather than putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree itself at risk, hire a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for many reasons:
- Healthy trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Maintained trees won’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
- Trimmed trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees create shade while still allowing air to flow through their canopies and your property
NJ Tree Trimming strongly suggests pruning trees that are near your house or those that are a focus of your property.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are resilient and are able to survive on their own across the world, in a variety of different climates and regions, without pruning.
However, there are a lot of benefits of tree trimming, so it’s recommended for any trees that you value. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that offer an important job for your house, such as shade or wildlife habitat.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Pruning a tree is a complicated task. You are going to need the correct equipment and a lot of knowledge to ensure the job is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s alright, because there are many professionals available who know exactly how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists in New Jersey we partner with!
Below are the 5 mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a trained arborist from NJ Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth paying for!
Trimming Too Much
When done properly, tree trimming is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by a professional if you value them and intend to keep them healthy.
A huge mistake homeowners 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 fix it all at once. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a time. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that there are no leaves, but a certified arborist is able to properly trim trees any time of year.
Removing Bark from the Tree
When you cut a tree branch and gravity starts to pull it down, it can rip bark from the tree 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 find their way in.
To guarantee this doesn’t happen, an experienced arborist makes special cuts beneath big branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these small cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and limits the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.
Trimming in the Wrong Place
A trained arborist knows exactly where to cut each limb to prevent damage. This cut should occur 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 away from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural problems.
Pruning Big Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and decay as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.
Conservative trimming annually guarantees that the company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of harming the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! During this service, tree trimming companies 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 may think this is a good way to lower the height of your tree with only a single cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s virtually no chance it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call NJ Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Attempting this job yourself might seem like a 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 New Jersey from NJ Tree Trimming.
Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which can result in odd shapes that might take years to correct. The tree might look bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one pruning error.
Incorrect pruning could also cause death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get enough water or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue healthy growth.
Cutting too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t always permanent, but it does take a great deal 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 NJ Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in New Jersey able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
