Every homeowner wants vibrant, healthy trees and shrubs. Achieving that goal, however, is not an easy task. Tree trimming, of course, helps. But as a homeowner, are you sure your DIY tree pruning is actually beneficial to your goal?
We make sure it is. Our Weatherford, TX, arborists gathered to give you industry-leading advice on how to avoid the 7 most common tree trimming mistakes. From scheduling your task at the right time to not getting carried away while cutting, we’ll discuss everything!
Continue reading to ensure your trees remain healthy and beautiful after a trimming job.
Why Proper Tree Trimming is Essential
Tree trimming plays a huge role in maintaining the health, appearance, and safety of your outdoor space. While it might be tempting to go with the flow, we heavily suggest against it. Below you can find why proper trimming is fundamental:
- Encourages Healthy Growth: Using the right pruning techniques and cutting away dead or diseased branches allows trees to thrive.
Prevents Property Damage: Overgrown branches pose incredible risks to power lines, roofs, and property. - Enhances Aesthetic Appeal: Proper trimming improves the overall look of your trees and landscape.
- Increases Sunlight and Air Circulation: Cutting back excessive foliage helps light and air reach all parts of the tree.
- Reduces Safety Hazards: Weak or damaged branches tend to break and cause accidents, especially during storms or high winds.
All of these are great reasons why homeowners prefer to hire professional tree services in Weatherford, like Alvarado Tree Trimming and Care. But you can still avoid common mistakes while DIYing your tree pruning!
The Most Common 7 Trimming & Pruning Mistakes
1. Working with the Wrong Tools
One of the biggest common pruning mistakes is not investing in the right tools. Using the wrong equipment or dull tools will only lead to improper cuts, harming the tree and leaving it vulnerable to diseases. Remember, every cut is a wound, so several bad cuts are going to lead to terrible results.
We recommend always using pruning shears, loppers, and saws that are actually appropriate for the branch size. Safety equipment, including gloves and eye protection, are essential to prevent causing injuries to yourself or others. If you’re not sure about the right tools to use, consider hiring professionals for the job.
2. Not Timing The Tree Pruning Properly
Tree trimming isn’t a task you can complete all year round. Timing matters a lot. Cutting branches during the wrong season will weaken the tree and stop its growth. The best practices include:
- Winter pruning: This is the best time to trim a tree, as they are dormant and recover quickly.
- Spring pruning: Suitable for flowering trees but should be done after blooming.
- Summer pruning: Helps shape trees and remove excess foliage but should be done lightly.
- Avoid fall trimming: Trees are preparing for dormancy, and cuts take longer to heal, making them more susceptible to disease.
So as you can see, successful pruning can only happen when the timing is right, and that also depends on the type of greenery you boast in your garden.
3. Trimming Too Much
Bad pruning can also happen when you get carried away and cut many branches at once. This is called over-pruning, also known as over-thinning, and it basically weakens the tree by removing too much foliage. Which is not ideal at all.
See, leaves are essential for photosynthesis. So, an abundant loss of leaves reduces the tree’s ability to produce energy. Plus, cutting too much can leave the bark exposed to sunscald, and lead to branch decay (a threat to your integrity, especially during storm season). A rule of thumb for arborists is to never remove more than 25% of a tree’s canopy at one time.
4. Trimming Large Branches
Removing large, mature branches is also a problem. This oftentimes causes serious damage and stress to the tree, because, as we mentioned above, cutting implies inflicting a wound to your greenery. Therefore, the larger the cut is, the longer it’ll take it to heal, and the bigger the risk of infection.
Our tip for this is to think strategically. Instead of removing entire large tree branches, approach the situation with patience and cut smaller limbs. This will maintain the balance and health of your investment. Keep reading to learn which branches to cut!
5. Trimming Branches Randomly
When we called trimming a strategy, we meant it. Improper pruning can also be to cut without a clear plan, which results in uneven growth and a misshapen tree (that might also be dangerous). But how can you know if you’re removing the right tree limb?
We have the answer. Focus on the following: dead branches, diseased limbs, weak branches, or crossing limbs. You can simply cut them while maintaining the tree’s natural shape. This pruning method ensures your investment grows strong and symmetrical.
6. Lion Tailing
Lion tailing is definitely what should you not do when pruning. This term refers to excessively trimming interior branches and leaving the growth at the ends only. It’s a grave mistake that creates an unnatural, top-heavy look.
Moreover, it weakens the tree. Without inner support, branches are more prone to breaking during storms or strong winds. A well-balanced trim distributes weight evenly throughout the tree.
7. Cutting the Top of the Tree
Cutting off the uppermost section of your greenery is called topping a tree. And, well, it’s one of the worst mistakes you can make. It’s a misconception that this technique controls height. It actually leads to everything but that, including weak regrowth, uneven structure, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases.
We recommend always checking the actual height of a mature tree if you prefer small trees. But if you already have a huge tree, don’t fall into the trap that topping is.
Use other pruning techniques or hire a specialized team to manage the height without compromising tree health.
Prevent Tree Trimming Mistakes with Alvarado Tree Trimming!
Avoiding these 7 tree trimming mistakes ensures your greenery stays healthy, stunning, and safe for many seasons to come! However, keep in mind that trimming requires vast experience and the right techniques to provide the results that you want.
This is exactly what Alvarado Tree Trimming and Care offers! Our professional pruning enhances your landscape without harming your greenery or the surrounding areas. We’ll shape your tree into perfection, and all you have to do is get in touch with us! We guarantee the best results in Weatherford, TX.