Tree trimming is best left to experienced professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing high up trees, wielding chainsaws and lowering heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it can also be dangerous for the tree as well. Trees that aren’t pruned properly can sustain a lifetime of damage.
Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, call an arborist who is trained and experienced to do the job for you.
This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment near your home for many reasons:
- Healthy trees are stronger and less likely to cause damage during storms
- Cared for trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Trimmed trees grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees provide shade and allow air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
GA Tree Trimming strongly recommends trimming trees that are very close to your home or all that are an integral part of your property.
Is Tree Pruning Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are very resilient and can grow on their own everywhere in the world, in a variety of different climates and locations, without trimming.
That said, there are several benefits of professional tree trimming, so it’s highly 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 Trimming Gone Wrong
Trimming a tree is a complex task. You are going to need the correct equipment and a lot of information to ensure the project is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s not a problem, because there are plenty of services available who know exactly how to correctly prune trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists throughout Georgia we partner with!
Here are the 5 mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a trained arborist from GA Tree Trimming will know, and that’s why their services are worth the price!
Trimming Too Much
When done correctly, trimming is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by a professional if you care about them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.
A big mistake homeowners often make when trimming trees themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to correct it all immediately. Ideally, you should not cut off more than 5-20% of the tree’s crown at the final removal cut. It is much easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but a certified arborist is able to safely prune trees any time of year.
Pruning in the Wrong Place
A trained tree specialist knows where to cut each limb to prevent 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 from it leaves a stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree trimming results in an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic damage.
Trimming Large Branches
Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch this large can result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and rot as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative trimming every year guarantees that the tree service company only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of hurting 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 trimming companies would just cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was neither attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping anymore.
As a DIY tree pruning, you may think this is an easy 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 almost no chance it will ever regain a natural shape.
The Solution? Call GA Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from bad pruning.
Performing this project yourself might seem like a good way to save money, but you might end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s a lot safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Georgia from GA 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 results in odd 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 error.
Bad trimming could also lead to death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can affect 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 healthy growth.
Cutting off too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock can be overcome, but it does take a lot of patience and care. Even with proper maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call GA Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Georgia able to devise a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
