The Basics of Tree Trimming

Tree trimming is a common service offered by tree care experts, and it can enhance the beauty of your property’s landscape. It also comes with health benefits, such as boosting proper growth and eliminating overgrowth issues. However, before you hire a professional to trim your trees, it is important that you understand the basics of this task.

There are several reasons why you need to prune a tree, and it mainly depends on the type of plant. If you have a lot of large and mature trees, they will require regular pruning for their maintenance. Aside from enhancing the aesthetic value of your landscape, this can prevent potential damage from storms, pests, and other environmental factors. The other reason is to keep your trees healthy by removing dead limbs, increasing airflow, and preventing rubbing branches. Finally, you need to trim a tree if it grows too close to your home and threatens its structure.

The key to successful trimming is knowing how to use the right tools for the job. You should always use a sharp blade to avoid damaging the trunk and creating harmful stubs that can lead to disease or insect infestation. In addition, you should wear protective gear to ensure your safety from falling debris.

Among the most popular trimming methods is thinning a crown, which is used to remove specific live branches to reduce a tree’s overall density and promote healthy structure development. This technique can also increase sunlight penetration and reduce pest problems. When performing this type of trimming, it is essential that you find the branch collar, which is located at the base of a live branch and has a slight swelling covered in rough bark. Make your final cut just outside this area to avoid removing the collar and exposing the tree to stress from water damage, fungus, or insects.

You should also avoid over-pruning. Removing too much of a live branch at one time can be detrimental to the tree, causing it to grow back brittle and weak. Additionally, you should never cut a living branch within 10 feet of utility lines, as this can pose a significant safety risk.

You can prevent blistering when using shears or loppers by wearing gloves and applying talcum powder to areas that are prone to irritation. You should also sanitize your cutting tools before and after each use. Inexpensive sanitizers that you can use include bleach, 70-100% isopropyl alcohol, Lysol, and pine sol.

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