Tree pruning is best left to experienced professionals. It’s dangerous work, climbing high up trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it can be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can suffer from a lifetime of issues.
Rather than putting yourself and putting the tree at risk, hire an arborist who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.
This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment near your home for many reasons:
- Healthy trees are sturdier and less likely to cause damage during storms
- Maintained trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
- Trimmed trees produce more flowers or fruit
- Trimmed trees create shade while still allowing air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping
AK Tree Trimming strongly encourages trimming trees that are very close to your home or any that are a focus of your landscape.
Is Tree Trimming Necessary?
It is not required. But it is important. Trees are strong and survive on their own everywhere in the world, in a variety of different climates and regions, without trimming.
That said, there are a lot of benefits of professional tree trimming, so it’s highly recommended for trees that you value. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that perform an important job for your home, such as shade or wildlife habitat.
Tree Trimming Gone Wrong
Tree pruning is a difficult task. You are going to need the correct equipment and a lot of knowledge to ensure the job is done right. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!
But that’s not a problem, because there are several companies available who know exactly how to properly prune trees for an affordable cost to you including all arborists in Alaska we work with!
Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when they attempt DIY tree pruning that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a trained arborist from AK Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth the price!
Pruning Too Much
When done correctly, tree trimming is an ongoing process. Starting when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by an expert if you care about them and want to keep them healthy.
A big mistake that people make when trimming trees by themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they have let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to fix it all immediately. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a once. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist is able to properly prune trees any time of year.
Removing Bark from the Tree
After you cut a tree branch and gravity starts pulling it down, it can tear off bark from the tree trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, leaving the tree in danger of attracting diseases and making it easier for pests and rodents to scurry their way in.
To stop this from occurring, a trained arborist will make special cuts underneath big branches before making their final removal cut. Knowing how to place these small cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and reduces the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.
Cutting at the Wrong Place
A certified arborist knows where to trim 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.
Cutting too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to decay, mildew and pests. Cutting too far from it leaves a stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree pruning results in an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural issues.
Pruning Large Branches
Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch this large can cause imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and decay as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.
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 harming 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! During this process, arborists would 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 a good way to lower the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s almost no chance that it will ever return to a natural shape.
The Solution? Call AK Tree Trimming
Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.
Attempting this job yourself might seem like a good way to save 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 Alaska from AK Tree Trimming.
Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which causes strange shapes that could take years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single trimming error.
Bad pruning could also result in death of the tree. Cutting off too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can affect the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get all of the water it needs or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.
Cutting off too many branches might also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t necessarily permanent, but it takes a great deal of patience and care. Even with the right maintenance, a tree undergoing shock may still die.
Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call AK Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Alaska able to customize a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!
