Do I Need A Professional To Trim My Trees?

There are a few scenarios in which we believe trimming your trees without holding an isa certification can be successful. However if you're looking to ensure your trees are as healthy as they can be and provide long lasting, luscious green foliage to your property, calling one of our professionals should be your first thought! Cutting trees incorrectly is a heck of a lot easier than you think, these beautiful living objects last a lifetime but can be cut short in a hurry. Not to mention the possibility of harming yourself or your property in the process. But here are a few key factors to proper pruning and trimming as well as reasons to call a trained arborist for your next pruning project.

Photo by Averilp, via Wikimedia commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Proper Cutting Techniques

Pruning and trimming your trees is an essential step in ensuring your plants are thriving in their environment. In order to properly trim the tree an adequate plan should be put in place. Depending on the purpose, either for safety, health of the woody plant, or aesthetics, plans for adequate pruning will change. Always prune for safety first, then for the health of the tree, and finally for looks.

First trimming stages should be used to get rid of any dead or dying branches possibly posing as threats, water spouts, vertical running branches, or crossing and touching limbs. Where and how you trim off the branches is critical in how the tree reacts and copes with the removal. Correct cuts are made when only branch tissue is affected and stem tissue is left untouched.

Finding the appropriate location to make the cuts as far as proximity to the stem tissue is key for the trees to properly heal, and not do any unintentional damage. A proper cut will start very close to the branch bark ridge, going down and away from the branch collar underneath the limb. Leaving too much of a stub will prevent fast healing of the tree and opens it up to possible infections, however too close to the stem with a flush cut will damage stem tissue and hurt the tree also opening it up to possible infection.

If a large branch is going to be removed, you should perform a three cut removal method that prevents the bark from tearing off and damaging the stem tissue of the tree. This method starts by making a shallow v notch cut on the underside of the branch farther away from the brach collar, this prevents the weight of the branch ripping the bark off the tree as it's removed. Then your second cut will be a complete removal cut, straight down just after your v notch cut, dropping the branch and keeping the bark intact closer to the collar and bark ridge. Your final cut will then be to remove the stub left, close to the collar on top. Start your cut going down close to the bark ridge, and away from the branch collar underneath preventing stem or trunk tissue damage, keeping the tree healthy and naturally healing the wound. It's also important to support small branches by hand when cutting to prevent bark ripping if the three cut method is not needed.

Techniques That Cause More Harm Then Good

More often than not we see improper cuts and techniques that results in the decline of a trees health. These incorrect techniques can result in stunted growth, potential die back, a decrease in the trees ability to fend off disease and pests, and in severe cases end in the death of the tree.

Common malpractice includes:

Tree Topping

Or reducing the height of a tree by cutting off the top section of the crown, thus opening the tree to disease and causes quick regrowth that has a greatly reduced structural integrity.

Tree Tipping

Cutting the lateral branches in-between nodes or not back to a branch collar in attempt to reduce a trees width, also poses the same threats as tree topping.

Bark Ripping

Due to not properly supporting a limb before cutting or not employing a 2, or 3 cut method on larger branches allowing the weight of the falling tree to rip the bark back past the branch collar and into the stem or trunk of the tree. This prevents a tree from healing properly and opens it up to disease and infections.

Flush Cutting

Is when you incorrectly trim off a branch or limbs too close to the leader, damaging the stem tissue, this allows the tree to rot and promotes infections where improperly cut.

Stub Cutting

Or an improper pruning cuts too far away from the branch collar that doesn't promote the trees healing response and opens it up to fungal infections and other diseases.

Over Pruning

Involves pushing a tree too far too fast, cutting too many branches in one season or at one time, in which the tree can't cope with all the wounds damaging the health and longevity of the tree in the future.

Pruning And Trimming During The Incorrect Season

Different tree species and genotypes have specific times in which they respond best to pruning. As well as appropriate times to greatly reduce the spread or contraction of diseases and infections. For example late fall to early spring is usually the most appropriate time to trim oak trees to prevent the fungal infection that causes oak wilt.

Reasons To Choose A Professional

Trimming your own trees can seem like a simple task, and depending on the size of the project it certainly can be! We think that if you feel confident in the reason to trim your tree, the techniques needed, as well as you're dealing with branches 5cm in diameter or less, you should certainly consider trimming your own trees. However we believe pruning branches 5cm and larger you should certainly be a trained professional and have a good reason to remove those branches properly and keep the tree in its healthiest state. Certified professionals have years of experience properly pruning and with knowledge of the effects of incorrect techniques. As well as arborists will be able to give you great tips on how to care for your tree after trimming to ensure your woody greens thrive to their full potential!