Tree trimming is best left to experienced professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy branches to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can sustain a lifetime of issues.
Instead of putting yourself and putting the tree at risk, find someone who is trained and experienced to do it for you.
This will result in much stronger trees and a safer environment surrounding your house for several reasons:
- Healthier trees are stronger and less likely to cause damage during severe storms
- Maintained trees don’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
- Trimmed trees produce more flowers or fruit
- Pruned trees offer shade and allow air to flow through their canopies and your landscaping
LA Tree Trimming highly encourages trimming trees that are near your house or those that are an integral part of your property.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not necessary. But it is beneficial. Trees are very resilient and can grow on their own across the world, in a variety of different climates and regions, without pruning.
That said, there are several benefits of tree trimming, so it’s definitely recommended for 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 home to wildlife.
Tree Trimming Gone Wrong
Trimming a tree is a difficult task. You are going to need the correct equipment and a lot of knowledge to guarantee the job is done correctly. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s OK, because there are a lot of professionals available who know exactly how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists in Louisiana we partner with!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree pruning that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that an experienced arborist from LA Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth paying for!
Pruning Too Much
When done the right way, trimming is a never-ending process. Starting when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by an arborist if you value them and desire to keep them healthy.
A big mistake people make when pruning trees themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they have let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to fix it all at once. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at the final removal cut. It is a lot easier to do this during a time of year 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 trim each limb to protect against damage. This cut should be done just beyond the branch collar, the specific place where the branch connects to the trunk.
Trimming too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to insects, decay and mildew. Cutting too far from it leaves an unsightly stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic damage.
Pruning Large Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter really shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch this large 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 guarantees that the company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which leads to a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of hurting the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.
Topping the Tree
Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! In this process, 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 majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping currently.
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 the top of a tree off, there’s almost no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call LA Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from bad trimming.
Doing this job yourself might seem like a good way to save a little money, but you could end up with way more cost trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s much safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Louisiana from LA 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 could take years to correct. The tree could look bad for the remainder of its life, all because of a single trimming mistake.
Bad pruning could also lead to death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can affect 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 lot of patience and care. Even with proper care, a tree experiencing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call LA Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Louisiana able to customize a plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!
