Thinking about pruning your own trees, and accidents may occur such at cutting through a branch and boom, it crushed the roof or car. Arborists have the expertise to properly assess, plan, and carry out pruning projects without causing property damage. Don’t be one who decides to attempt tree pruning yourself without proper knowledge and preparation, here are some of the more common mistakes they make:
Using dull tools – If you’re not experienced at tree pruning and the tools you have in your shed or garage are old, which makes the healing process longer since branches are not cleanly cut. Besides, it makes your job harder and longer. Sharpen your tools or look into investing in new ones.
Not sanitizing tools – Sanitizing tools is essential to be sure not to pass on any diseases onto your tree. It’s true, this can happen.
Topping or lopping – It’s a bad practice to lop off the top of trees, and cut wherever you want. Proper tree pruning must have a system to keep trees beautiful and healthy.
Simply put, lopping is the act of cutting a branch in spots other than a union or node. This creates a less attractive growth pattern, but more importantly, weakens the new branch structure. It can also make your tree more susceptible to fungal infections. You could be creating health issues for your tree, but also a hazard for you and your family.
Over lifting – This is when a person removes all the lower branches of a tree, making it top heavy and more susceptible to branch failure.
Over pruning – Don’t get carried away when pruning a tree. You should never remove more than 25 percent of its leaf-bearing crown, even less when you are dealing with a mature tree. Older trees take longer to heal, so also keep that in mind.
Flush cutting – This is when someone cuts a branch flush against the trunk or a main branch. It can cause a number of problems, including uneven bark and the potential for disease, fungus and pests.
McCullough’s tree pruning services
While you may be well-intentioned, DIY tree pruning without fully understanding the proper means of doing so may not only compromise your tree’s health, but create future safety risks. Call Us TODAY and we’ll be happy to ensure you have a safe and healthy tree for many years to come.