Tree Trimming

The tall, lush trees in your backyard might look serene, but untamed, they can quickly transform into towering green monsters, swaying menacingly over your home! This isn’t a fantasy tale; it’s a very real scenario playing out in countless backyards.

The solution? A professional tree trimming service.

These experts turn green monsters back into the beautiful, leafy trees you first fell in love with. The silent threat brewing right in your backyard needs careful tending. These tree whisperers, your tree-trimming professionals, are just the ghostbusters you need to maintain harmony in your home’s green space.

Now, let’s take a look at eight benefits of hiring tree trimmers.

1. A Tree Trimming Service: Your Green Thumb Guardian

Engaging the services of a professional tree trimming service is like assigning a personal bodyguard to your trees. They bring knowledge, skills, and tools to keep your trees healthy and in prime condition.

Tree maintenance isn’t just about chopping off a few branches and calling it a day; it’s an art and a science. Professional arborists analyze the health of your trees, detect potential diseases, and execute precise trimming that encourages better growth and longevity.

2. Expert Diagnostics: A Critical Benefit of Tree Trimming Services

One often overlooked advantage of hiring a professional tree service is their ability to diagnose tree problems early. Just like a doctor examines a patient for symptoms, arborists can spot signs of tree problems that the untrained eye might miss. They’re tree doctors, in a sense, ensuring that your trees remain in the pink of health.

If a tree does show signs of illness or pests, your tree service will know exactly what steps to take. They might recommend a specific treatment, for instance. Or, in extreme cases, they may suggest tree removal to prevent the spread.

3. Tree Trimming Service: Aesthetics Matter

Who says functionality and aesthetics can’t go hand in hand? Professionally trimmed trees not only contribute to a healthier landscape but also elevate the appearance of your property.

A professional tree trimming service employs experts with a trained eye for beauty and symmetry. They shape your trees in a manner that adds balance and appeal to your outdoor space.

4. The Boon of Tree Service: Safety

The safety benefits of professional tree services can’t be overstated. Overgrown trees can pose serious risks. The issue is that heavy, untrimmed branches may loom over rooftops, power lines, or roads, threatening damage or injury.

When you think about the potential costs associated with property damage or, heaven forbid, a personal injury, the value of preventive tree maintenance becomes clear.

Professional tree services employ trained experts who can spot potential hazards before they become serious issues. They can safely and accurately prune back these risky branches, ensuring they don’t pose a threat to your property or family. With a professional service, you get peace of mind knowing that your trees are not just taken care of but also safe.

5. Time and Money Saved: More Benefits of Tree Trimming

Time is a precious commodity that we all seem to be short of. Ask yourself, do you have the time to dedicate to maintaining your trees properly? Do you want to spend your valuable weekends wrestling with heavy equipment, making risky climbs, and cleaning up piles of debris?

Hiring professional tree trimmers can save you significant time. These experts have the skills and equipment to get the job done efficiently and effectively. They can handle tasks that could take you an entire weekend in just a few hours.

6. Good for the Environment: The Unsung Tree Service Benefits

Engaging a professional tree trimming service doesn’t just make your yard look better. It’s also an act of environmental responsibility.

Healthy, well-maintained trees contribute to a healthier environment. By ensuring your trees are properly trimmed and maintained, you’re reducing the chances of disease or pest infestation, both of which can be harmful to the local ecosystem.

A professional tree trimming service works not only to maintain the health of your individual trees but also to contribute to a healthier ecosystem around your home. Each tree serves as a microhabitat for various insects, birds, and other creatures, providing food, shelter, and nesting sites. Ensuring the health of your trees helps to ensure the health of these local fauna.

7. Boost Tree Health

When your trees are healthy, they’re happy. And when they’re happy, so are you! Regular tree maintenance conducted by professionals can significantly extend the life of your trees by catching and addressing health issues early on.

Think about it; a professional tree service isn’t just about cutting back branches. It’s akin to a full medical check-up for your leafy companions.

Regular check-ups can identify issues like infestations, diseases, and decay, ensuring that these problems are dealt with promptly. This not only helps the trees in question but also prevents these issues from spreading to other trees.

8. Uncover the Brilliance of Tree Trimming

Finally, the brilliance of professional tree trimming cannot be overstated. It’s not merely about hacking away at overgrowth; it’s an art form, a complex dance that requires knowledge, skill, and a deep understanding of each tree’s individual needs.

A professional tree trimming service looks at the bigger picture, considering factors like the tree’s health, its growth patterns, and how it fits into the overall landscape of your yard. They’re able to make strategic cuts that improve the tree’s health, promote growth, and enhance its natural shape.

These precise cuts can prevent diseases, allow more sunlight to reach the tree’s lower branches, and improve air circulation, which can reduce the likelihood of fungal infections. This holistic approach ensures your trees aren’t just surviving, they’re thriving.

Unveiling the Many Benefits of Tree Trimming

As we wrap up this enlightening journey, we hope you’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the many benefits that tree trimming services bring to your table. It’s more than just about managing your backyard; it’s a complete package that enhances your property value, ensures safety, contributes to a healthier environment, and prolongs the life of your beautiful trees.

At Arbor-Tech Tree Service in Texas, we’ve got your back. Get in touch for a quick free estimate here and let our professionals get the problem fixed pronto!

The United States alone has over 228 billion trees! With this number, it’s easy to understand how various tree species can end up in the same yard. While this makes for a beautiful garden, it does make it difficult to know when to trim your trees.

The frequency of tree trimming depends on different factors like the tree species, its age, health, growth rate, and the desired outcome. There is no “one size fits all” answer when it comes to tree trimming.

Trimming your trees when needed ensures your trees stay healthy and improves their overall shape and look. Removing old or dead branches will allow sunlight into the tree and reduce height or weight, which can become hazardous.

So keep reading to find out more about tree trimming and how it benefits your trees.

When to Trim Trees

Most trees benefit from trimming in mid to late winter. Trimming during dormancy encourages new growth as soon as the weather warms up. The lack of leaves allows easy access to branches and limbs that require trimming.

Here are some guidelines on how often trees should be trimmed:

Mature Trees

Mature trees generally require less frequent trimming. Regularly check your trees for dead, diseased, or damaged branches that need to be removed. Trimming every 3 to 5 years is sufficient for maintenance purposes.

Over-trimming trees will cause harm such as:

• Stripping them from too many leaves and nutrients that they need to survive
• Overexposure to the sun from having too little foliage
• Branches that are too weak to tolerate strong winds or fight off diseases or insect invasion

Young Trees

Young trees can be trimmed every 2 to 3 years to ensure proper structure and encourage tree health and growth.

Trees under the age of 5 years are considered young. The first years of a tree’s life are very important for its future health and as such, trimming must be done with care.

Start off by only trimming branches that are showing signs of disease or have died. Shaping a tree or allowing for good airflow by removing several branches can be done when the tree is older and stronger.

Flowering Trees

If you have flowering trees, you need to know their blooming patterns before you start any tree trimming. Some species produce blooms on old wood, while others only bloom on new growth. Removing branches that are about to bloom will affect future flower production, as the tree will need time to recuperate.

Fruit Trees

Trim fruit trees (except for sweet cherries) when they are still dormant. In the early spring, the buds are easier to see and the cuts will heal more quickly.

Yearly trimming encourages fruit forming and will lead to bigger and healthier fruit production.

Evergreen Trees

Evergreen trees require less trimming compared to deciduous trees because they keep their foliage year-round. Trimming improves their shape and will maintain their aesthetic appeal.

Tree Trimming Tips

What to look for as a starting point when trees need trimming:

• Dead branches
• Branches that look like they might be dying or diseased
• Sprouts at the base of the tree trunk
• Branches that grow across the center of the tree trunk 
• Limbs that rub together
• Branches in a V-shape
• Branches or roots that interfere with power lines, sidewalks, and buildings or cause obstruction and reduce visibility

How to Trim Trees

There are three major cuts when it comes to tree trimming.

The First Cut

Start at about 18 inches up on the underside of the branch. This is a good place to make the first cut. Cut only halfway through the branch.

The Second Cut

Move to the top of the branch. Start a little further out from your first cut underneath the branch. Carefully cut down until the branch breaks free.

The Third Cut

Find the branch collar on your trunk. This is a swollen area at the base of the branch where it joins the trunk.

Make the final cut just outside of the collar but do not leave a stub. A 45-degree angled cut away from the base prevents water damage and encourages the forming of tissue called a callus over the wound. This helps with the healing of newly trimmed branches.

What Tools Do You Need for Trimming Trees?

You need a variety of tools to trim your trees effectively.

A trimming saw has tempered metal blades that remain sharp. They cut on the pull-and-push stroke, which makes for quick and clean cutting. Lopping shears, on the other hand, have long handles and solid blades that let you cut accurately at a greater height and in tight spaces.

A rope saw uses a chain-type cutting blade and can be used to cut through thicker branches. A chainsaw quickly cuts through thick branches but shouldn’t be used on small limbs because of its shredding effect. Consider using the services of a professional for cuts that need a chainsaw for safety reasons.

A pole pruner has an extendable handle for reaching limbs that are beyond your reach. Choose a pole pruner that comes with interchangeable cutting tools like a pruning saw and a bypass pruner for versatility when trimming large branches.

Smaller hand tools like shears or secateurs are used to cut thinner branches and foliage.

To keep you safe from any falling debris or branches, you should wear safety goggles and a hard hat. Even smaller cuts can result in shooting splinters and debris that can cause injuries.

Trees respond well to good care. Consider making use of an arborist who specializes in the care and maintenance of trees.

Tree trimming can be risky if you do not know how to use the tools correctly. Hiring tree trimming services will allow you to sit back, relax, and enjoy your garden while you know your trees receive professional care and maintenance.

Tree Trimming Made Easy

It’s important to stay on top of your tree trimming schedule if you want to ensure your trees are happy and flourishing. Each type of tree is different, so it’s a good idea to categorize them by species and age before you start trimming anything.

Trimming is meant to improve the shape of your tree and encourage new growth, so make sure you’re trimming at the right time.

If you’re looking for a tree trimming service near you, contact us today. Arbor-Tech Tree Service provides high-quality tree service in the Dallas area.

Tree trimming. It may not be something you think about all of the time, but it is something that is likely going to be done if you own a home or business. 

That is why the tree trimming service industry in the United States is worth $29 billion. 

If you are someone that has not had to do this often, you may be wondering when you need tree trimming service. Why should you get it? 

Here are seven of the biggest reasons. 

1. Tree Trimming Safety 

One of the biggest reasons why you should hire a tree trimming service is for safety reasons. If this is not something that you have ever done before, you are not likely to know how to do this. 

On top of that, the trimming required may be very high up on the tree, forcing you to climb it.

With that in mind, you can imagine there is a chance that you could fall from the tree if you do it yourself. If that happens, you can get badly hurt, or even killed if it is a high enough fall. 

Leaving this in the hands of professionals greatly improves the safety of the job. 

2. Experience

Going off of the above, hiring a professional service gets you experience with people that have done this exact job and have the skill set to do it right.  

On top of avoiding possible falls, you can prevent further damage to the tree and the property around it by hiring people that know how to work around that. We will talk more about that later. 

With a professional service, you will have someone that knows the ins and outs while also knowing exactly how to approach the situation. 

3. Health of the Tree

If you are someone that cares about the health of trees, this could arguably be the biggest reason to hire a service to do the job. The reason why is that these professionals know how to do the job without damaging the health of the tree. 

You may be someone that sees the necessity of trimming a tree. However, you may also want the majority of it intact and still in front of your home or business. 

Professionals will only take out what is necessary while leaving the health of the tree intact. Someone trying to do this themselves could damage another part of the tree, forget to take out a dead branch or even accidentally knock off a healthy branch that was not necessary. 

They can do what is required without doing any more harm. 

4. Time 

The old saying is time is something that you can never get back. While that is true, one way around this is if you never have to use that time in the first place. 

That is the case when it comes to trimming a tree. If you are trying to do this yourself, you are likely going to have to take some time to figure out how to do the exact job that is required. 

This will not only take longer, but you may not even get it right on your first shot. If that happens, you are going to take even more time than you expected. 

If you hire professionals, you not only save your own time, but they will get the job done in a condensed time period. 

5. Insurance 

Something else that you have to think about when it comes to removing a tree from your home or business is the repercussions if things go wrong. 

Let’s say that you tried to remove the tree yourself to save money. The problem is it backfires, and now a branch does damage to your property. 

Then, you try to file a claim with your home or business insurance company, and they tell you that this incident is not covered because a professional was not responsible for it. That means you not only did the job wrong, but you are on the hook for all of the damage. 

There were about $1.4 trillion in insurance premiums in 2021. Considering what is at stake for large insurance companies, do not assume they are going to give money out that they are not legally responsible for. 

6. Protecting Your Property

Going off of the above, you want to make sure that when this job is done, your property is the same as when you left it. With professionals, this is a near guarantee because they know how to work around obstacles such as buildings nearby. 

Do not put your property at risk just because you may be considering saving a few bucks by doing it yourself. 

7. Getting Ahead

Finally, if you hire a tree trimming service, it can allow you to get ahead of future problems that you may not notice immediately. 

An example is if a branch is close to dying or can cause an infestation to the rest of the tree if it is not treated soon. A professional can get rid of that now with little to no problem, likely saving you a future headache and maybe some extra money. 

Hire a Tree Trimming Service 

These are the biggest reasons why you should hire a tree trimming service. It is a safer job that can prevent problems that may come up in the future. 

On top of this, you do not have to worry about property damage, you getting hurt on the job, wasting your time, or being concerned with inexperience.

Has all of this convinced you that this is the right way to go? If so, message us here today to start the tree trimming process. 

Proper tree trimming is essential not only for aesthetics but also for your home’s safety.

When your trees are healthy, the risk of stray branches falling and hurting someone decreases dramatically. When you choose to not use a tree service, though, mistakes can be made. Luckily, we’re here to teach you more.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about tree trimming and the potential mistakes you could be making.

Trimming Random Branches

It’s easy to assume that random branch selection is a good idea when you’re trimming trees, but you’d be incorrect. In fact, if you’re unsure of what to look for when you’re trimming trees, you might find it’s best left to a professional.

They’ll be able to carefully select which branches they choose to remove, how much they should remove, and how they should be removed. They’ll have a solid understanding of your project’s end goal, and they’ll be able to ensure it’s met.

If you don’t have an end goal in mind when you begin trimming, you’re going to have a hard time achieving the results that you want. In fact, you might end up causing more harm to your tree than you ever originally intended to.

Using Dull Tools

When it comes to dull and unsanitized tools, it’s important to keep them away from your trees at all costs. You may not realize it, but these two factors can actually lead to infectious bacteria and fungi spreading through the tree.

This is especially true if a different tree you cut with the same tools was already sick or diseased in some way. Infectious diseases can spread quite easily, and it’s important to prevent them from the beginning.

That means making even cuts with freshly-sharpened tools to help branches heal faster. It also means keeping tools clean between cuts. That doesn’t just apply to your tools, though.

Poor Cleanup

It’s also important to clean up the leftover branches and debris after you’re done trimming.

If you don’t, you risk a lot of unnecessary accidents or even fatalities as a result. You’re also leaving potential infection or disease on your property, meaning its access to your grass, shrubs, or other plants is a lot less limited. As a result, you’ve now placed those plants and the people in your home at risk for things that were easily preventable.

If you choose to hire a professional, they’ll take care of everything for you. You won’t have to worry about potential hazards, and you’ll know everything on your property is even safer than it was before the project even began. 

Trimming the Wrong Amount

When you cut too much or too little, there are a few things that can happen.

If you cut too little, then you’re not going to see any difference. On the other side, cutting too much can put your tree under a lot of stress. They’ll be losing their leaves, which is where the majority of their nutrition and sustenance comes from.

An experienced arborist knows exactly where to cut, and is also going to cut the right amount. That means your trees won’t be placed at risk during harsh weather, and they’ll be able to fend off disease or other risks a lot more easily. Your arborist will set a clear end goal at the beginning of the project, and they’ll have that goal in mind throughout the entirety of their work.

You’ll be left with healthier trees, and a lot more peace of mind.

Incorrect Timing

There’s a time and a place for everything, and tree trimming is no exception. Trimming your trees at the wrong time of year is going to cause potential nutrient and growth issues.

In some cases, trimming when the growing season is at its peak may be ideal. On the other end, trimming when the tree is dormant may be necessary. It all depends on the tree’s individual needs, and it’s important to take them into account when you’re getting started.

Improper timing can lead to stunted growth, and an inability to fend off infection or produce the proper amount of nutrients. This is where working with a trained professional can help, as you’ll no longer need to worry about timing.

They’ll be able to tell you the best time to trim your trees, and they’ll be able to help out every step of the way.

Improper Safety Measures

This is perhaps the biggest reason you should have for wanting to work with a professional. As an expert, arborists know the proper steps to take when it comes to keeping themselves safe on the job. They’ve been trained, and they have a wide array of industry knowledge to help back their efforts.

As a DIYer, you might not have as much education. Tree pruning is more difficult and dangerous than it may seem, and it’s important to stay up-to-date with safety measures and regulations.

Without the proper tools, knowledge, and expertise, you might find yourself in a situation that you never would’ve pictured yourself in by the end of the project.

Do You Need Help With Tree Trimming?

While DIY tree trimming is something a lot of homeowners choose to take on, it’s not for everyone. Hiring a professional can mitigate risks, and it can also save you time and money. They’ll ensure the job gets done correctly the first time around, and you won’t have to worry at all along the way.

Luckily, we can help you every step of the way. Contact us today to get started.

Is the tree next to your commercial property starting to look a bit wild? If so, it’s time to grab your trimmers and give the tree some TLC!

Word of warning, though: do your research before you start chopping. Tree trimming may seem simple, but doing it poorly can cause lasting damage. That’s particularly true if you have no trimming experience.

Want to make sure you’ll trim your commercial tree properly? Start by avoiding these seven commercial tree trimming mistakes at all costs!

1. Tree Topping

These days, tree topping is a bit of an outdated trimming practice. There’s a good reason for that: it’s one of the worst things you can do to a tree.

Topping involves cutting a tree’s trunk somewhere below its apex. That’s the simplest way to reduce the height of a tree that’s grown out of its space. It also causes undue stress to the tree and makes it more likely to topple.

See, the trunk is the most important part of any tree. If you top it, you’ll never be able to restore it to its natural shape. Instead, you’ll get several spindly branches known as water sprouts growing at the top.

Beyond being susceptible to breaking, these branches will also need trimming later on. In the meantime, they’ll allow strong sunlight to enter the tree, which may lead to sunscald and peeling bark.

2. Excessive Trimming

One trimming mistake many people make is that they trim too much. You can always take off more, but you can’t put those branches back.

Why is this important? For starters, every cut impacts the tree’s ability to heal, grow, and absorb sunlight. Removing branches can also lead to limb death and invite wood-decaying fungus.

In general, you should only cut dying branches, tree suckers, and branches growing down or inward. Not sure how to identify these branches? Consider hiring a professional tree service to handle the trimming.

Also, don’t try to cut off more than 20% of the tree’s crown during a trim. That’s why tree trimming is best done as a long-term practice. Letting your tree grow out of control and trying to fix it all at once is unlikely to work.

3. Lion Tailing

Do you know how some trees have thin canopies and many visible interior branches? Well, these trees have likely been victims of lion tailing.

Lion tailing consists of making the tree look like a tuft at the end of a lion’s tail. It’s done by removing the low branches and leaving the ones at the top. Unfortunately, gutting the tree of its interior makes it far more fragile.

The more foliage you remove from a tree, the more its crown is open to damage from the sun and wind. Without its flexible and protective form, a lion-tailed tree is more likely to get damaged in winter.

4. Trimming Large Branches

A proper tree-trimming process requires a lot of research. You should know which branches to cut, how much to trim, and what angle to cut at.

One thing many people struggle with is trimming large branches. For best results, avoid trimming branches larger than 4 inches in diameter. Doing so can cause an imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and pests.

That’s another reason why annual trimming makes sense. Doing things that way means your company will only have to trim smaller branches. On top of keeping the tree healthy, this will produce a more attractive shape.

5. Using the Wrong Tools

Using the right tree-trimming equipment is essential for any trimming task. The most common trimming tools are shears, saws, loppers, and chainsaws.

Pick your tools based on the size of the tree’s branches. For instance, shears are great for simple cuts on bushes and thin twigs. Loppers can cut branches that are up to two inches thick, such as the ones on cherry trees.

If you’re struggling to reach some deadwood, use a pole pruner. These tools can extend up to 15 feet and often feature a pruning saw and a bypass blade. Use the blade to trim smaller limbs and the saw for larger ones.

Whatever tools you use, make sure they’re sharp. Using old or dull blades may create rough cuts that will shred the bark. In the long run, these wounds may lead to sunscald or other significant issues.

6. Imprecise Cuts

Having a proper tree trimming technique is essential for trimming. Sharp and precise cuts minimize the damage and allow the tree to heal quickly.

Flush cuts, for example, are always a bad idea. That’s when you cut too close to the trunk, removing the branch collar. Although this cut may look clean, it will create a wound that the tree won’t be able to seal over.

Of course, cutting too far from the trunk introduces other issues. Leaving too much of a dead branch may cause it to decay into the trunk. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t be able to hang something off the cut branch.

7. Poor Timing

The best season for tree trimming tends to depend on the tree itself. That said, there are some periods where trimming isn’t advisable.

For instance, trimming in the summer exposes the bark to the sun. If your tree is already weak, harsh sunlight may cause other wounds. Those wounds will then attract disease-spreading beetles and other bugs.

Similarly, trimming during the fall may encourage growth that will die in the winter. To avoid wasting your tree’s energy, it’s best to trim it when it’s dormant. For most trees, this period will be November through March.

Avoid These Commercial Tree Trimming Mistakes

The bottom line: tree trimming is a demanding task. Still, the benefits of tree trimming are too numerous to ignore it. If you’re set on doing it yourself, this article can serve as the perfect starting point for your research!

Want to make sure you’ll avoid the common commercial tree trimming mistakes? Our expert arborists can take care of this task for you! Contact us right here to learn more about our services.