Tree pruning is best left to experienced 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 as well. Trees that are improperly pruned can experience a lifetime of damage.
Rather than putting yourself and putting the tree itself at risk, hire an arborist who is knowledgeable and experienced to do it for you.
This will lead to much stronger trees and a safer environment surrounding your landscaping 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 grow more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees offer shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your landscaping
MS Tree Trimming highly recommends pruning trees that are near your house or those that are an integral part of your landscape.
Is Tree Pruning Necessary?
It is not required. But it is beneficial. Trees are strong and can grow on their own all over the world, in various different climates and regions, without being trimmed.
However, there are a lot of benefits of tree pruning, so it’s recommended for trees that you care about. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that perform an important job for your house, such as shade or home to wildlife.
Tree Pruning Gone Wrong
Pruning a tree is a complex task. You need the correct equipment and a lot of information to guarantee the job is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!
But that’s not a problem, because there are a lot of companies available who know exactly how to properly prune trees for an affordable price to you including all of the certified arborists throughout Mississippi we partner with!
Below are the 5 mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a certified arborist from MS Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth the price!
Pruning Too Much
When done properly, pruning is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by a professional if you care about them and want to keep them strong and healthy.
A huge mistake homeowners make when trimming trees by themselves is cutting 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 the actual removal cut. It is much easier to do this during a season that the leaves are off, but an experienced arborist will be able to properly prune trees any time of year.
Cutting at the Wrong Place
A certified arborist knows where to cut 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.
Trimming too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to pests and decay. Cutting too far away from it leaves an unsightly 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 any larger than 4 inches in diameter really shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and rot as the tree recovers from such a large loss.
Conservative trimming annually ensures that the company only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which results in a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of hurting the tree or exposing it to disease and insects.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! In 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 currently.
During DIY tree pruning, you might think this is a good way to lower the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut the top of a tree off, there’s almost no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call MS Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.
Attempting this project yourself might seem like a way to save a little 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 Mississippi from MS Tree Trimming.
Limbs don’t grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which results in strange shapes that could take years to correct. The tree could end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single pruning mistake.
Incorrect trimming could also lead to death of the tree. Cutting off too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can affect 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 lot of care and patience. Even with the right maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call MS Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Mississippi able to devise a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
