Tree maintenance can make or break your home. A 2021 study found that trees add more than $31.5 billion to the value of homes every year.
Unfortunately, tree trimming is about more than removing a few branches. You need to take several steps in order to maintain your tree. You can take the first step by educating yourself about tree trimming tips.
What does good tree trimming look like? How should you trim a branch on your tree? What branches should you remove right away?
Answer these questions and you can keep your trees healthy for years to come. Here are 10 essential tree trimming tips.
1. Develop a Tree Trimming Goal
Tree trimming can help you in several ways. It can make property maintenance easier, as it removes branches and leaves you have to clean. It can also make your tree shorter or decrease the amount of shade underneath your tree.
Adjust tree trimming tips to fit your goal. If you’re looking to maintain your property better, you want to remove branches that shed a lot of leaves. If you want to make your tree shorter, you should target the top branches.
2. Look at Your Tree
Before you start trimming, you should evaluate your tree. Do a walk around it and take a look at the trunk, leaves, and branches.
Imagine in your head what your tree should look like when you are done. You should also take photographs of any branches that have been damaged by pests. Warning signs of pest damage include misshapen leaves and mildew on the bark.
3. Identify the Skeleton
The skeleton of the tree is made of the major branches that allow your tree to grow and remain upright. Take a look at where your major branches are and steer clear of them. Cutting into your skeleton can cause your tree to become infected or fall over.
4. Be Strategic With Your Timing
If you prune a branch in the summer, you will slow its growth down. If you prune in the winter, a new branch has plenty of time to grow, and you may have larger branches than normal.
Think about your goal again and decide when a good time to trim your tree is. When in doubt, you should try trimming during the fall or winter, as there are fewer pests around your tree.
5. Make Cuts on Undersides
You can use whatever trimming tools you want to trim your branches. Trimmers generally work best, but you can use a handsaw as long as the branch falls away from you.
Place your tool against the underside of the branch you want to cut. Make a cut that goes a few inches into the branch, but not all the way through.
Your cut should be a few inches away from the stem collar, which is the bark your branch protrudes from. Do not cut the collar, as you risk leaving the skeleton of the tree exposed to the elements and pests.
6. Cut Away From the Trunk
Once you’ve made your cut on the underside, you can make another cut. This cut should be further away from the trunk so you do not touch the stem collar at all.
You can cut all the way through and allow the branch to fall to the ground. You will leave a small stub in place, which will protect the tree and keep it from being infected.
7. Prioritize Obstructing Branches
You should remove any branch that obstructs your power line, overhead cables, and walkway. You should also remove a branch that can fall on your house or patio.
You don’t have to remove the entire branch if you don’t want to. You can trim a few inches off the branch, or you can ask a tree or garden service company to prune the branch.
8. Thin Out the Thick Areas
Thick areas of branches can pose problems for your tree. A thick area can shift the center of balance, causing your tree to fall over during a storm. It can also block sunlight and water, making it hard for the roots underneath the branches to grow.
You should remove branches from areas that are too thick. In particular, you should target branches that are growing inward, as they can impact the skeleton.
9. Prune Diseased Branches
Signs of diseased branches include yellow leaves, wilting branches, and spots on the bark. You must remove diseased branches right away. They may spread bacteria or fungus to other parts of the tree, causing the entire tree to die.
If your tree has died, you should ask someone to remove the entire tree. Signs of a dying tree include a lack of leaves and brittle bark. It can fall over at any time, and it can be a home for pests and wild animals.
10. Assess Your Tree Trimming
After you’re done trimming your tree, you should do a final inspection. You can focus on any dead or encroaching branches you left in place, but you should also assess how your tree now looks. Many trees have naturally round canopies, so you may want to remove a few branches to make your tree seem smoother.
Start Tree Trimming Today
Tree trimming is easier said than done. You need to look at your tree and avoid harming the skeleton in any way. You should look for diseased branches and trim them right away.
Make your initial incisions on the undersides of your branches. You can then cut away from the trunk, leaving a stub behind. Assess whether you have the shade and height you want on your tree and trim it again in the winter.
If your tree has died or you need help, turn to professionals. Arbor-Tech Tree Service serves the Plano area. Contact us today.
