Some homeowners might try pruning their own trees, but making improper cuts and not having the right tools can make the job impossible. If you’d like to avoid making tree pruning mistakes that could kill your specimen, rely on professionals instead.
As certified arborists providing tree services in Gainesville, FL, Top Tier Tree Specialist shares the common errors people make when they prune their own trees below.
1. Not Inspecting the Overall Tree First
Before making any cuts, inspect the entire tree to figure out where pruning will deliver the greatest benefits. Set a goal for the pruning process, whether you’re looking to remove dead branches or need to remove branches that are growing toward power lines.
2. Pruning at the Wrong Time of the Year
Timing errors are common when homeowners are maintaining and pruning trees. Professionals do not recommend pruning trees during the growing season in spring and early summer. Instead, the tree will remain healthier when pruning occurs in late autumn and early winter.
3. Over-Pruning the Tree’s Smaller Branches
Removing a few larger branches leads to better results than trimming dozens of small branches. The fewer wounds you can make on the tree through pruning, the easier time it will have while recovering.
4. Topping the Tree’s Canopy
Removing too much of the canopy is among the most common tree pruning mistakes people make. Topping trees involves chopping off some of the vertical height of the tree to make it shorter. However, when you conduct this process incorrectly, you can cause the plant to go into shock and die.
5. Failing To Take Safety Precautions
There are also safety reasons that homeowners may face when pruning trees from far above the ground. Take several safety precautions, including a helmet if you’re cutting branches anywhere near your head. Unless you have the proper training, you’ll want to avoid climbing a ladder to prune anything.
6. Using Incorrect or Dull Tools
Incorrect tool use is another common problem for homeowners doing their own tree pruning. Pruning tools need to have sharp blades to make clean cuts that help trees heal properly. If you’re using a chainsaw, keep it spic and span.
7. Choosing the Wrong Location for Cuts
Removing live branches by making cuts in the wrong location is also a common error. When cutting a branch, avoid leaving too much of the branch attached to the main limb or trunk. This is called a stub cut, and this piece could rot, exposing the tree to decay.
If you cut it too close to the trunk, the wound may not heal properly. Where you see a crevice, insects see an avenue to invade the tree.
Call Top Tier Tree Specialist Today For Tree Pruning You Can Trust
At Top Tier Tree Specialist, we’ll use the right techniques and proper equipment to ensure a safe pruning process devoid of tree pruning mistakes. Why risk a DIY job that could kill your tree? The areas we serve include Gainesville, FL, and north-central Florida.
Call us today at (352) 472-8733 for a free estimate on tree care services!
